Edited 08/13/2018

Chapter Two:

Even the strongest of souls will eventually give in when enough poison gets pumped into their veins. They become weaker to the point that they fall to their knees, looking to the sky for some sort of answer as to why -why it hurts so much they can't breathe or barely function. But no savior will come take it away, allowing you to live once more the way you always had.

If you do climb out of the dark hole your emotions put you in, you will be forever changed; dead and lost to the world as you once more try to blend into everyday life like your very soul wasn't ripped out of you and stomped on.

That was how Seto Kaiba thought of love. He always detested such foolishness.

Blue eyes narrowed on the dull computer screen before they closed all together. Unlike other times he did not flinch or get filled with anger and annoyance as large, light-filled amethysts eyes placed themselves behind his eyelids like they lived there -like they had a right to be there.

He supposed they did.

A dry, bitter chuckle escaped the young CEO's lips as he leaned back in his chair, his eyes sliding open as he examined the roof that he quickly found needed a new paint job.

Seto Kaiba came to terms with it a long time ago. He knew why those eyes followed him around, why his dreams ended up putting a strange ache in his chest. He had his opinions of love, but he would never be so weak as to not be able to admit to himself the things he would never admit to the world.

And as the days turned to months and months turned to years, he pulled himself away from the situation all together. He didn't want what his heart wanted, and while he recognized his feelings for what they were, that didn't mean he had to pursue his desires or even agree with it.

But they say distance makes the heart grow fonder, and Kaiba soon found himself having more vivid dreams that left his chest feeling even emptier when he awakened to find himself alone, just as he always had been throughout his life.

And then there he was, standing in his doorway, eyes clouded with lust, and that expression being directed towards Kaiba made him reach his peak so strong that he nearly passed out. It was those eyes that made him relieve himself in the first place.

When his brother informed him that the object of his desire was going to be at his birthday party (along with his little friends that Kaiba put on the same level of cockroaches), he couldn't deny to himself the pleasure he gained from knowing he would be so close. But knowing that he would have to stay away, hidden from those large bright eyes that were always so kind and patient regardless of what Kaiba had done to him, made his heart clench in his chest like a hand was squeezing it in half.

Regardless of the pain it caused he stood in the shadows and watched the group interact. It was the only thing he could do. He rationalized his decision, convinced that keeping his distance was indeed the best for everyone. He watched in a stiff silence as the object of his internal-conflict occasionally looked around, curious and a little disappointed.

He knew that he was the one those eyes were searching for.

Yugi Muto was always an open book. The only thing that changed about him was his height which was about five-foot-seven, and the deepening of his voice though it was still sweet and gentle; a little more on the feminine side.

It tore Kaiba's world up admitting to himself what he was feeling and desiring towards another male. He never paid much attention to people and held no attraction towards women or men -his world only consisted of Mokuba and Kaiba Corp. So at first he was baffled and even a little horrified. He was over that now; Seto Kaiba never cared what anyone thought. Most of them were just a waste of space tainting the Earth anyway.

But rather he wanted to pursue it or not Yugi Muto was not an option. That was just the cruel reality of the world.

After a full hour of watching what he could never be a part of, with cold eyes he turned on his heel and headed to his own room he would use as his hideout so he wouldn't have to subject himself to unnecessary torture anymore. Not to mention all the idiots in one room was enough to give Kaiba a migraine for the rest of the night.

So knowing that he would get no more work done that night he sat back down in his chair, leaning back as he tried (and failed) to relax. Before he knew what was happening his mind was out of his control, showing him pictures of his darkest sexual desires.

The images kept replaying in his head like a broken record, and when he felt himself get so hard that it caused him pain, he quickly undid his pants and lost himself to the pleasure that he knew will always be short-lived and only in his imagination.

When he felt eyes on him, he did not expect to open his own and see him standing there in the dim lighting of the room and breathing almost as hard as Kaiba was. Hungry eyes were completely transfixed on what his hand was doing, before slowly sliding up his body to meet his own passion filled blue-eyes.

He lost himself the moment he saw the condition Yugi Muto was in, the evidence clear and surprising. Kaiba knew right then and there that it was not one-sided, and Yugi was in the process of realizing that his whole relationship with that Tea girl was just a lie.

And that pleased Kaiba to no end.

Like a hunter he had found his prey, and now knowing what Kaiba knew he was not about to let Yugi shield his eyes to the truth when Kaiba himself had come to terms with it.

He refused to want someone so cowardly that they hid from their own feelings.

He stood up swiftly, grabbing his dark blue trench-coat as he exited his office, giving up on any hope of completing any work. The goodbyes his employees gave were met by silence as he sauntered out of Kaiba Corp and into his limousine, not saying a word to his driver as he pulled out his phone, a small smirk on his lips as he put his first move into play.

He always got what he wanted, and Yugi Muto was going to be no exception.

~~W~~W~~W~~

The silence was thick and heavy but Yugi kept his eyes down, watching as he twiddled his thumbs out of nervousness.

"Yugi, are you coming to see me dance later?"

He finally looked up, his eyes tired and worn as he stared at his girlfriend of two years. She was watching him with concern, no doubt wondering why he seemed to be pulling away from her the past week.

"Of course Tea. I wouldn't miss it."

She smiled, though her smile was not nearly as brilliant as it usually was. She had yet to ask him what was wrong, and he appreciated that because he had no clue how to describe to her his...situation.

"Okay, I'll see you tonight then," she said evenly as she leaned over the counter and gave Yugi a gentle, lingering peck on the cheek.

"I love you Yugi, don't forget that," she whispered softly before turning on her heel and exiting the game shop, not giving Yugi enough time to respond though he wasn't sure if he would have been able to. His reply for some reason was stuck in his throat like bread.

He sighed and glanced at the clock, noticing that it was only thirty minutes to closing.

With a tired yawn he decided to go ahead and close up for the day. The moment he flipped the open sign to closed, he allowed his shoulders to slump and his feet to drag as he went into what was now his very own home.

His Grandpa had went with his friend Arthur Hawkins and granddaughter Rebecca to Egypt, and had been gone for almost a year. He missed his Grandfather, but for the first time since he had left Yugi was glad that he was gone.

Not that he didn't still miss his comforting presence, but his Grandpa would have surely noticed that something was on Yugi's mind. He was not ready nor prepared for answering any questions. What would he even say? That he saw Seto Kaiba...no, there was no way he ever tell a soul about that.

He felt his cheeks burning as he walked up the stairs to his room. He didn't even change out of his clothes as he took off his shoes and plopped down on his bed. He turned so he could see the single blood-red rose sitting in a clear vase by his bed.

The rose still had its thorns. It was as dangerous just as it was beautiful, and Yugi found that rather fitting.

He reached over and gently grabbed the piece of paper sitting on his bedside table, the paper already wrinkled and worn from being read multiple times a day. The rose showed up in front of the shop two days after he went to Mokuba's party.

He carefully opened it up, his eyes scanning over the one word that left his mind reeling along with a set of initials.

Soon,

SK