A/N: Much thanks to those who reviewed the previous chapter. I'm sorry I haven't sent out the replies yet, but rest assured that I have read them. I'm in the rough beginning of my midterms, is why so I'm afraid I won't be able to respond as fast. Thanks, though. Really.
Oh, by the way. I didn't mention it in Part I, but this is actually my gift-fic to Hathor so... ::shrugs::
Hathor: ::hugs:: You deserve all the thanks I can give.
Part II
As far as first days of school went, Yami's was plain and boring. He did his introductions and he greeted his teachers before he proceeded to the far back of the class to sit there. For Mondays, he had six classes and he didn't share any of them with Yuugi or their friends. Sighing as he listened to their Economics teacher, Yami leaned his head on one hand and started to zone out.
Alas, new 'kid' as he was, Yami didn't know that mobile phones were supposed to be switched to silent or turned off during classes. So when a text message came in, his phone rang and disrupted the class. Alarmed, Yami sat up and met the glare of their teacher.
"Mr. Mutou!"
"Sorry, sensei. May I answer this, please?" Yami asked, standing up as soon as the teacher gave him the go sign. Amid the snickers of the class, he rolled his eyes and stepped out, looking at the flashing number on the screen. It was Yuugi. Immediately, he dialed his hikari's number.
"Aibou, I was in class!" He hissed. As much as he wanted to talk to his aibou, he didn't want to give his teachers a bad impression on his first day of school.
"Gomen, Yami. I just wanted to tell you that we'll be waiting for you for lunch later. We'll be at the table near the door to the bell tower. Oh don't worry, you won't miss it!" was Yuugi's cheerful reply.
He wouldn't miss it, Yuugi said.
Yami sighed and stared at the crowded cafeteria.
The thing was, he couldn't find the gang. And he looked pathetic, with his tray of food in his hands and his bag slipping from his shoulder to his arm. The bag was heavier this time since the teachers had already given him his books.
At a distance, he saw the empty courtyard and smiled. That was a good place to spend the time. It wasn't like he'd see his hikari here anyway. And he was too new to join any of the tables (assuming he even wanted to). Off he went to the courtyard and upon finding a secluded spot beneath the shade of an old oak tree, Yami smiled and sat down.
This was lunch: apple juice, chicken sandwich and a chocolate bar.
This was what Yami did: He lay on his back and nibbled on his sandwich while he reached for the copy of Le Comte de Monte Cristo that Seto had brought him. He smiled, remembering what happened that morning. He wasn't used to seeing a flustered Seto Kaiba but a flustered Seto Kaiba was adorable.
His lunch break covered two hours and fifteen minutes of his time and he was barely into ten minutes when his eyes slowly closed. Yami's grip on the book and his unfinished sandwich loosened as he turned to his side and napped instead, using his bag as a pillow.
"Mutou, seriously, wake up."
Seto's voice was laced with exasperation and partial amusement. He looked at the sleeping figure on the grass and tried pushing him gently. When Yami didn't budge, he decided to sit beside him instead, shaking him.
"Go away," Yami's sleep-laden voice slurred, shrugging off the annoying hand.
"Mutou!" Seto shook him again.
"You're annoying," Yami impatiently quipped, half-asleep and facing the brunet. He still had his eyes closed when he wrapped his arms around Seto's neck and pulled him close, using him as a pillow. When Seto slumped forward, taken aback, Yami grinned and rested his head on Seto's shoulder.
Seto stiffened, not knowing how to react. When waking Yami up proved to be inevitable, Seto sighed and decided he could let this pass. His face was a perpetual red even as his arms went around Yami's slender body. He pulled the other boy half on top of him and closed his eyes as well.
Waking up was going to be an awkward event.
When Yami opened his eyes, yawning lazily, the first thing he saw was Seto staring back at him from under him.
"Good to know you're awake," Seto dryly greeted.
"Oh–sorry, Seto!" Yami didn't realize that he called the brunet by his first name as he scrambled away.
Seto ignored it and sat up as well, fixing his clothes. They had been asleep for thirty minutes when the book on the ground caught his attention. "You're already reading it?" He asked in disbelief. He was expecting the books to be in Yami's locker.
Yami blushed, sheepishly picking the book up.
"It's my favorite."
"I know."
"You do?"
This time, Seto's eyes widened as he realized what he had just said. Yami waited for an answer and Seto crossed his arms, pretending that knowing things about other people he normally shouldn't care about, was normal. He wasn't accustomed to people questioning his intentions or answers. What was it about Yami that made him want to answer anyway?
"Yes," Seto admitted, meeting Yami's blush with a fainter shade of his own. He petulantly looked away.
"Oh. How?"
Seto stared at him, lips quirking into a frown. "Why do you keep asking?"
"Why do you know so many things about me?"
"Because."
Yami sighed, "Because what?"
Seto shook his head, laying on the grass again, forgetting everything about how their uniform were supposed to be clean and neat. Yami peered into his eyes, leaning on his arms as he came closer, hands at each of Seto's side. If the brunet could find a way to send just how irked he was at the former pharaoh, he would have already. But he couldn't and he found that like this, Yami's bangs fell just the right way to frame his angular face. It was endearing.
At the thought, the brunet reddened.
Yami's eyes widened in wonder.
"You're blushing!"
The CEO glared at him.
"I don't blush."
Yami, Seto found, was even more persistent when he knew he was right. Yami leaned closer as if he could see better if he was a breath apart from Seto. "Yami, don't be an idiot and let me stand up," Seto ordered. The former pharaoh shook his head, to which the CEO heaved a sigh. "This is my spot. People don't go here because I stay here all the time."
"I don't see your name anywhere," Yami teased, smug at the reply.
"What are you? Eleven?"
"No, are you?"
Seto groaned. "Why are you acting like this? You're too old for childish banter, Mutuo! And let me up!"
Yami sighed and moved away, sitting near his bag instead. The wind was cool and it made him want to lie back down and go to sleep. He realized the CEO was staring at him and he met the other boy's gaze. "Yes?"
The CEO looked thoughtful for a minute, glancing at the books behind Yami then at the former monarch. "Have you been to the library? They have an entire section dedicated to history and historical novels," he suggested.
"Really? Oh. I don't know where it is."
Seto stood up, wondering why he was doing this in the first place. He offered a hand, which Yami took and pulled the other boy up. "I'll lead the way," he told Yami, forgetting to let go of his hand. It was only when Yami was reaching for his bag that they stared at each other then at their clasped hands.
"Oh." Yami pointed out.
"Sorry."
The library was spacious and it was… wonderful. Yami couldn't find the words to describe it. The shelves were filled with books and he could see the history section at the second floor. He couldn't wait! "Amazing," he thought to himself as he ran up, Seto following.
The best thing about the present was that there were too many things to know about. And it nearly overwhelmed Yami. He stole a glimpse at Seto, who was leaning on the shelf beside him and watching him carefully. Seto's eyes were hooded, emotions masked that Yami had to frown and wonder if something was wrong.
"Do you need something?" Seto suddenly asked, apparently catching him staring. Yami jumped and hit the shelf behind him. Were the spaces between the shelves really this narrow? How come he didn't notice? Yami shook his head.
"N-no," he replied.
"Quit staring at me."
"What's wrong?"
Seto was quiet and refused to meet his gaze this time. Yami sighed and briefly turned to return the book. When he turned around to face the brunet, he yelped in surprise, seeing Seto invading his personal space. His eyes widened when Seto's cold hands framed his face and pulled him into a kiss, their lips crashing softly, slowly.
In his arms, Yami was pliant and Seto couldn't help but think that this was a mistake. If Yami was going to ask another question, he wouldn't know what to answer. But this was Yami and Seto couldn't resist him. He pressed Yami to the shelf and slipped his tongue inside Yami's mouth at his gasp. The former pharaoh's eyes had shut and it was only when Yami was kissing back that Seto got hold of their situation.
Horrified, he pulled back.
"Seto?"
"Sorry–"
Seto stepped back and fled down the stairs. Yami gaped, willing his body to move.
"Seto, wait!"
Disoriented that he was, he stumbled on the stairs and closed his eyes, waiting for the impact.
At someone's pained grunt, Yami meekly opened his left eye, peeking. Seto was staring at him, all the worry and concern clear and strong in his eyes. Yami blushed and realized he was holding to the brunet tight. Everyone was looking at them and it was only when the librarian was headed their way that Seto let Yami down.
"Thanks, Seto," Yami mumbled, standing on his feet.
Big mistake.
He leaned on his left leg and lost footing. The stumble must have hurt his ankle.
"Careful," the brunet whispered, helping him back up as his hands fell on Yami's waist.
"I'm sorry," Yami answered, "I'm not normally careless."
"Don't worry about it." Seto's smile was small. It could barely be noticed, but Yami saw it and he smiled back.
