A/N: This story is a joke to myself and may not seem to make much sense. I don't expect anyone to really read this...But I wanted to write it, so I did! Originally a one-shot, I decided it better to chop it up into chapters for easier reading/remembering.

A/N: Read slowly to take in each sentence in its entirety! If you want.

OoO

You Can't Read This

Seto K x YY

OoO

"The illustrious bloom of the lotus– Egypt's symbol; the birth of such a floral deity is harmonious to the living Earth. Its gentle polypetalous—each whorl a pianissimo fold that drinks the golden ambrosia of the inflamed globe above. It is a contradiction that such a delicate and illusive being crafted with beauty and nobility would symbolize an equally stark opposition.

"Death and rebirth.

"These sacred understandings–like that of ancient runes and hieroglyphic scriptures far before the age of spoken language– these instruments are necessary and capable of rekindling the robbed breath of life's fire. Said divine truths are required to be ingested by those who believe– to reignite the fallen ashes and reform them once again into the brilliant pinions of the Phoenix.

"Upon these vast, blazing talons lies a new life–a new entity where each new form and its promises are born from each cry of this fabled creature. Every weight of lyrical sound bursting from its belly is a promise of another chance; a new life; a new journey; a new desire. Nestled deeply in its downy bosom–within its forever beating heart–is a declaration of what one yearns to obtain.

"What that is varies for all that lay sight upon this creature. However, for myself, the one thing that I wish to claim most above all else and above all other desires I hold fast in this world...

"...is my freedom... whatever that may be..."

The feathering of a sigh fluttered from Yami's lips as he finished writing the last fragment of his prose. Uncertain with the words distilled from his soul, the inquisitive former ruler leaned back in his chair, gingerly tapping the end of his pen against his lips. He had been writing this passage over the span of half an hour. This particular piece would be the sixth one he's written today. He found the act of writing to be quite an exhilarating experience. He had always been one to favor the completed efforts of the arts, but he never thought that he himself would ever nurse the idea into fullness. Ever since Anzu explained to him her adventure at a poetry reading, Yami took it upon himself to attend a few with Yūgi. After that, it was suggested that maybe he take up a new hobby besides playing Duel Monsters with Seto so much of the time.

While Yami loved dueling, and doing so with that charismatic CEO he was so fond of even more, he decided to try something new. In doing so, he came to the realization that he had a love for the pen to guide him in wherever his mind may meander, no matter how random or foolish. But for the past few days, he had been lingering on the musings of Egypt. His past still alluded him. He thought that if he wrote from his heart, then perhaps the hidden truths in the jagged complexity of his mind would surface. As he dallied in thought, his eyes shifted over to the clock on Yūgi's nightstand.

3:15pm

His expression went from placid to intricate once he remembered an upcoming engagement with Seto. Although his demeanor of urgency towards being around the other man would suggest something more intimate, the two of them had just simply agreed to have a duel. Every day. Around the same time. Surprisingly, none of them seemed to tire of it yet and Yami always and quite eagerly looked forward to entertaining Seto's company. Since the time was nearly nigh for their routine meeting, he gathered his pocket-sized writing book as well as his deck and prepared to make his leave.

OoO

The sound of an electronic swipe emitted from behind Seto's office doors and immediately gained his divided attention. He looked up from the many documents atop his desk in organized piles just in time to see the double doors begin to open.

"Kaiba? I apologize if I've inconvenienced you," Yami's sonorous voice addressed as he slipped into the room and shut the doors behind him. A cryptic allure hung in Seto's eyes as they settled on his entering rival before him. Only he and Mokuba had direct access to his office other than himself, so the "intrusion" didn't go unanticipated. And in addition to that, he expected Yami to arrive everyday for their dueled. It took Yami months to finally stop knocking politely before just entering the room; but he had abolished the polite knocking for annoyingly voicing his arrival instead. At least, Seto thought it annoying; and his opinion was what mattered.

"You're early," Seto stated mechanically while returning his attention to the work in front of him to neatly sort it away into different drawers beneath the desk. Whenever Yami came to visit for their daily duels, Kaiba made sure they received no distractions or interferences. After finishing, he seamlessly trailed his gaze over to the esteemed duelist before him. Studious sapphire trickled down to the small notebook held at Yami's side, "Keeping a diary now are we?"

"It's not a diary, Kaiba," Yami corrected promptly with a dim smile that carried the air of "You didn't really just ask me that, did you?" He glanced down at the book before sending his eyes to Seto once more, "It's just an ordinary notebook. If you must know, I've decided to begin writing prose. And poetry."

"Oh?" Kaiba questioned, appearing a bit uninterested, "Can't say I've ever seen you as the writing type."

"It was Yūgi and Anzu's idea. I've been writing for several weeks now by their suggestion," Yami began in a softer tone, making his gaze aimless around the room. He was aware of Seto not liking to hear of others he held dear, but he was more uncomfortable talking about this now when they had a daily engagement to initiate, "In any case, shall we begin our duel for today?"

OoO

The next day Yami returned to Kaiba Corp for their obligatory duel still carrying the small notebook that held his inquires and encrypted musings. He and Seto dueled, then parted separate ways as they normally did. One particular day during the same week when Yami arrived, it took Seto a little longer to be rid of his work duties to prepare for their grand battle. Yami took that time to finish off a poem he had began earlier that week that he could not seem to shake from his mind. As he wrote, Seto observed this with narrowed eyes and his lips in a thin line. Yami's eyes seemed to caress the page with a softness Seto had never witnessed his rival ever to be capable of; his thick lashes gingerly dipped, hiding part of his jeweled orbs as they played about the written words he brought to life. Yami's lips were barely parted, and slightly pursed, as the focus in his writing amplified. Yami was immersed and whatever it was, it took his attention away from Seto and the possessive CEO did not fancy that much. When Yami came to duel him, he felt he deserved all of the other's attention. But ever since he began this new scribed hobby by suggestion of those useless losers he called friends, Seto had began to see more that notebook than he desired. It would be foolish of him to demand that when Yami came to see him that he avoids bringing that book with him. He wanted to smack it out of Yami's hands but while its presence took some of the attention off of him, Yami was not interrupted by it during their duel. Seto may not have liked it, but he was not going to demand something so childish especially if Yami enjoyed it—even if he was becoming jealous of it. The fact that Yami felt comfortable enough to bring that book and write in front of Kaiba told him Yami held him in a higher regard than he would have given credit for. He appreciated that; however, appreciation was not a substitute for envy and Seto just had to be nosy.

"What do you write about anyway?"he questioned, peering down at the small notebook in Yami's hands. Instinctively, Yami snapped his attention up to Kaiba, who quirked a challenging brow, then brought the object protectively to his chest. But then, his grip began to slack and his body relaxed. He found it a bit odd that Seto would ask out of curiosity and he gave him a puzzled look. Kaiba wouldn't have genuine interest in something of his unless he either felt he could best him in it or if using it could benefit him in some way, Yami surmised. But then again, Kaiba had shown him time and time again that he has had interest in him alone. Maybe he was just jealous of it taking up their time. He wasn't aware of how long he had been writing.

"Sorry, were you ready for our duel?" Yami asked, closing the book and placing it in atop his thighs.

"I didn't ask you about the duel, although I can assume you're ready now. Answer the question."

"You mean, what do I find so important to work on while here with you? They're thoughts; inquiries; uncertainties..." Yami trailed off. ' Some of them are even about you,' he cognitively added, glancing away from Seto. He did that to make sure Seto wouldn't gain understanding of his thoughts through his eyes alone. Seto knew Yami rather well, and vice-versa. They had a wavelength that was far beyond comparison—even towards the link that Yami and Yūgi had. While adverting his gaze clouded the embarrassment he did not want Seto to see, it also alerted Seto that whatever was being attempted to be hidden dealt with him in some profound way. An amused sound drifted from Seto and he shifted his weight as he crossed his arms, "And? Have you let the runt or anyone else read it?"

"No," Yami declared crisply and returning his vivid eyes back to whom they belonged, "I've let no one see them. Not even Yūgi."

"That's surprising," Seto snorted sarcastically.

"I'm sure it is..." Yami paused with his tone equally matching Seto's in intent. His eyes whispered down the contours of Seto's face, then traveled down the length of his body before trailing over the cover of the notebook in his lap. After a beat of contemplation, Yami returned his eyes to Seto; a hidden and cautious desire swam in them, "Would you like to see it?" he inquired cautiously, "I've written down everything pertaining to an outside view of my perceptions... Most of it may not make much sense to anyone but myself. However, I do believe that you might be able to understand, Kaiba."

"Show me."

Yami's hands clutched the notebook briefly, showcasing one last moment of hesitance towards allowing his most inner secrets to be observed, before offering it to Seto. Accepting the item, the taller of the two opened to the first page. The expression on his face became complex as he was faced with decoding the format of the writing. After getting past that, Seto began to read and drank in the compassionate content. He returned to his desk in gradual steps while taking in the first entry. Once in his office chair, Seto's frosty sapphires sprinkled over the words on the following page. He could easily tell that Yami poured much into the passages; there was an abundance of emotion in every line. Yet, while he could feel that passion from what was written, Seto found difficulty in understanding Yami's reasoning for choosing deeply metaphoric ways for expression. Why didn't he write his visualizations in a more simplistic way? He could have easily stated and portrayed the same power and raw emotion in his descriptions if he were simply straightforward as opposed to building up unnecessary imagery. Yet, even with his gripes, Seto continued reading quietly to himself; turning page after page. When he reached a certain part of the last poem written, his curiosity towards the last few lines caused him to begin reading aloud.

" ' Hard-pressed studs with an euphoric glaze—tints of glossed complexity linger trapped inside of burning diamonds of blue. A gaze that transfixed upon me like no other rattles my brimmed intrigue...

" ' Only those diamonds are able to scorch me to my atoms' core with their eternal imbued glint of cold flame and convictional admiration.' …..." Seto announced in a deep tone in such a way that could have doubled for enticement as well as understanding for himself of what he just read. Silently, his priggish gaze fluttered up towards the author.

Yami sat perfectly poised in the chair, sitting on the edge of it, with his head held high and an unreadable expression decorating his features. Inwardly, he wanted to scream, he wanted grab the book and storm out of the office, he wanted to throw a random object or heavy paperweight at Seto's head for indirectly teasing him the way he just did. And irony would have it that the last poem Yami had been in the middle of writing held descriptions that dealt with the one of whose lips just consumed it. From the way Seto looked at him in those mischievously arrogant methods he did that got under his skin and annoyed him to no end, Yami believed that his "secret" was out. There was no way Seto couldn't understand that last poem was entirely about him and how Yami considered the many ways he was looked at by those eyes; those "diamonds". But whether or not that assumption was found to be true or not was anyone's guess. Seto didn't speak a word about it if he did know. Considering this, Yami mentally swore to himself. If Kaiba knew, he'd pretend otherwise just to hold the suspense over Yami's head. But instead of pressing the matter, Yami detoured from the obstacle altogether, "That's all I've written so far over the past few months."

"Hmm ...not bad. A little too descriptive for my tastes, but not bad. You have a way with words."

"... … … Thank you... ..." Yami uttered half-heartedly, "May I have my book back now, please? If you don't mind."

"Hmm?" Seto teased, giving Yami a bright, and tauntingly playful, look that drizzled with allure and challenge. The attitude looked rather tasteful on Seto and Yami had to catch himself before his expression of entrancement seemed like more than the illusion of weariness it may have given off. "My notebook. I'd like it back," Yami continued, rising. Seto eyed him pleasantly as his rival approached the desk and reached for the item. Of course, Seto denied the return of the book and moved it from Yami's reach with a smooth movement of his wrist, "Sorry, I can't do that."

"And why not"

"Because I said no"

"Kaiba!" Yami scolded, slamming both hands down atop the mahogany, as well as some of Seto's sorted documents. "You have no right to deny me of what belongs to me, Kaiba!" Yami warned, leaning in towards the amused CEO. A sarcastic sound vibrated from Seto and he mirrored Yami's closeness with a smug smirk on his lips. The notebook was securely held in one hand and he successfully was able to maneuver it away from Yami's grasp even as he spoke, "I said it wasn't bad. And the reason you come here is to duel me...not to write poems right in front of me...!"

"Jealous much? I was waiting for you to ready for our duel since I arrived early again this time!"

"I... don't...care, Yami..." Seto jeered coolly in a manner that baited Yami closer as well as annoyed him to new levels. Their noses now a mere two inches away from the other, the both of them saw it fit to engage in an intense glaring bout. Goading amusement spread across Seto's lips with a haughty sound to match. Staring at Yami like this reminded him of what was written about the way Yami perceived how he gazed upon the shorter. There, a thought occurred to him. He wondered if he could write in similar ways and stealthily present how he saw his regal rival. In fact, he saw the idea as a type of game. Maybe he'd give this writing ordeal a go after all. With that decided, Seto inched his face closer to Yami's and tilted his head slightly. Not expecting the advancement, Yami blinked and fought with the options of keeping his gaze lost in Seto's or to close his fluttering eyes. The second he heard the desk creak, indicating Seto had moved even closer, Yami firmly shut his eyes and prepared for the best; or worst.

But surprisingly, Seto did neither. Yet, the touch of his breath about Yami's ear caused the exotic dueling legend to drop his mouth open, and made his body shudder from the raspy sound that emerged, "K...Kai...ba...?"

"And just to make it clear to you," Seto whispered into Yami's ear, " you are here to thrill me, nothing else."

"..." Yami had to bite his bottom lip to block the gasp that desired to spring free from him. He never thought he'd be able to be this close to Seto, let alone have him feathering words into his ear; but he secretly was loving every second of it and yearned for it to last just a little bit longer. He had forgotten about the book and reality didn't return to him until he felt the warmth at his ear recede and heard the noise of the desk as the weight from Seto's palms pressed against it. When Yami's eyes finally, and discreetly, opened, Seto was no longer in front of him. Blushing softly, his eyes wavered down to the desk where his notebook now rested. Staring at it, his body resisted snatching it up and tucking it away inside one of his pockets. For some reason, he felt it was much "safer" where it was now. At least he could trust Kaiba with it. And speaking of Kaiba, where was he?

"Here," Seto called from behind Yami. When the lithe male turned, he had to immediately catch, and nearly fumbled, the duel disk that was tossed to him. "Kaiba?" he wondered, beginning to fasten the device to his arm while observing his rival do the same.

"Are you ready, now? I still have work to do after this."

"I understand."

"I'm going first."

"As you wish..." Yami nodded while glancing away. Shards of his embarrassment still lingered in rosy strands about his cheeks and he hoped it remained unseen by Kaiba. But whether it was or not was unknown. Across the room, Kaiba humphed, then drew his card for the turn. After glancing at it, he smirked faintly, "Hey, Yami."

"Y-yes? What is it?" Yami questioned, looking upto Seto with the utmost absolute attention. Seto allowed that ego boost to simmer first before he continued," And by the way, I'm not jealous of some tiny notebook. That's childish."

From hearing this, Yami couldn't help but have a good sonorous laugh—because he knew otherwise.

OoO

To be continued!

And like I said, I don't expect anyone to read this, like this, or really even get it because there isn't really much to "get". I just wanted to write this for myself. Both Pisces (Yami) and Scorpios (Seto) tend to like the arts very much, so why not have them write to each other? It kind of sounds like "favoritism" towards writing, but it's really not. It just fit.

-Mel