Warning: Dark plans, some strong language, flying fists, blood. Kaiba/Tristan POV.
Credits: This is an alternative path for D. Draggy's story "Being Dead Ain't Easy," which can be found here on this site, pity the link's not uploading *makes a face*. I bow to Draggy's superior skill and only hope that this fic is taken in the spirit it is meant, remembering the old cliché, "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."
Disclaimer: I do not own Yugi-Oh, any of the manga, anime, etc. No students were harmed in the making of this fic.
Author note: Thanks to all my loyal readers! I know you're out there, since I can see the Hit and Visitor numbers going up… care to let me know who you are and how you like the fic? Reviews are much loved, and reviewers are added to my hugs list!
*Sorry this one is so short. Longer next time!
~~~~~ ***ygo*** ~~~~~
Chapter Four: Planning and Initiation
I wanted to run after Kaiba and deck him right then, pound him into the pavement and keep going until he joined Joey in the grave. But I didn't. It was like my determination gave me clarity of thought, direction of purpose. I was deliberate. Methodical. I thought ahead. Planned. I was one cold, hard bastard. I don't know what I looked like, but Yugi was alert enough to be concerned.
"Tristan?" He caught me after school. "What's wrong?"
I shook my head, my mind elsewhere. "Nothing's wrong, Yugi. You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. You just...you look different, Tristan. What's going on in that head of yours?" He looked worried about me.
Damn. I hadn't wanted to worry Yugi. Poor kid had enough on his mind. "Nothing, Yugi. I'm fine. I promise." And I'll be even finer once I have Kaiba on the ground.
He touched my arm, biting his lip and searching my eyes. "Promise me you won't do anything rash, Tristan," he suddenly demanded. "Promise me you won't hurt yourself."
Wha-a-a-at? He thought... He actually thought I might do myself in? My expression must not have been particularly reassuring, because he gripped my arm suddenly, staring into my eyes. "Tristan. Please. You've been distracted all day, more so than normal. You're planning something and we - Yami and I - we're worried that you might do something we'll all regret. Please, Tristan," he begged. "Don't hurt yourself. Don't do anything that will hurt all of us."
I'm homicidal, not suicidal. Important difference. "Yug'..." I gripped his arm in return. "I promise. I swear, I'm not going to hurt myself, or you, or Tea, or anyone I care about. Believe me, that's the last thing on my mind." I hadn't felt this alive since Joey died, in fact. This one's for you, buddy.
Yugi didn't look convinced, but he let me go, reluctantly. "O-kay..."
"Yugi." I stared him in the eyes. "I promise. Everything's going to be okay." As soon as Kaiba pays for what he did to Joey. Once that debt is cleared, then the world will be alright again. I just knew it.
~~~~~ ***ygo*** ~~~~~
Next day.
I put Phase One into action during Social Studies, the one class I share with Kaiba that doesn't have Tea or Yugi in it too. Bakura's there, but he shouldn't be a problem.
The clock is ticking...ticking...ticking... where is he? Damn, if Rich Boy is late, it'll throw off the timing for everything. Come on, Kaiba, get your butt in here...
Ha! There he is. I stand up to 'greet' him. "Kaiba."
"Taylor." He tries to push past me, but I don't let him. That trench coat doesn't scare me, and I grab him by the upper arm. "Let go, Taylor."
"You cold-blooded bastard." My voice is low, but I can tell that it's arrested the attention of everyone in the room. Bakura looks scared, but he's not interfering. Good. I go on. "Joey was worth a hundred of you. More. It should be you in that graveyard. You should be dead, not him!" I grab him by the shirtfront, shoving him up against the wall. Woah boy, dial it back a notch. Wouldn't do me any good to over-act this. Hell, who's acting?
Kaiba's face twists, snarling, his hands rising to grip my wrists. "Get your hands off of me, Taylor."
Rage. I'm so mad, I'm shaking. "Just tell me one thing," I demanded, voice low. "How much did you pay his parents? What price did you put on Joey's sacrifice?"
Oh. Crap.
I have time for exactly one thought before a flying fist takes me alongside the face, knocking me to the floor. With my hands still tangled in his shirt, I drag him down on top of me. He gets one more shot in before I explode with an uppercut to his jaw, rolling us both over so I can rain down blows from above.
He keeps us rolling, trapping me underneath again, slamming his fists into my face twice more before a pair of strong arms drags him off, still swinging. Panting in the reprieve, I wipe my hand gingerly across my face, spitting blood from a split lip.
"What seems to be the problem here, boys?" a gruff voice booms down from above.
I scramble to my feet in front of Mr. Takahashi, the teacher. Normally, I'd be scared to death to be caught fighting in front of him. Normally.
"Nothing, sir."
He nods. "Nothing. Right." Like he expected anything else. "I think it's detention for you both. Seto. Can I let you go now?" Rich Boy's still shaking, but he looks like he's reigned himself back under that damned control of his. Takahashi releases him back to his seat. "Tristan." He stares at me. My nose is bleeding, and I can feel my eye starting to swell. He shakes his head. "Go see the nurse."
I head out, avoiding Bakura's stare. Perfect. Perfect. Phase One complete.
