"Seto, this is gonna be so cool! I'm glad you came up with this—you really are so awesome! Everybody is going to be so surprised!" He cheered, practically bouncing off the walls of the airport.
Kaiba watched with half-amusement and half-gloom. He wished being with 'them' didn't make his brother so happy. But then, 'I guess I'm being a bit selfish, wanting his attention all to myself.' Besides, for Kaiba's plan to work he had to let Mokuba enjoy himself, he was doing this for him after all. Yes. He really was, in his mind.
'They fill his mind with the thought that I'm the bad guy and they're the good ones. I'm not about to let Yami try and poison my flesh and blood against me. Even if, I have to use some people in the process.'
"Seto. Is something wrong?" The excited younger one asked.
Kaiba snapped out of his thoughts and smiled distantly at him. "What? No, why do you ask?"
Mokuba sighed and sat down beside his brother. He leaned his head on his shoulder, "I know you don't like them and the only reason you're inviting them to stay is probably because of me. So thank you and I really think you're the coolest big brother anyone could have, Seto."
Kaiba swallowed hard, he was definitely not expecting that to come out. He wrapped his arm around him and leaned his head against his. Suddenly, the foundation of his plan had slightly cracked. But, the plan would still go on, he wouldn't have Yami in his life anymore, any longer. "Thanks Mokuba." He whispered back, sincerely and quietly. The two sat there waiting for their 'guests' to arrive.
"So, apparently Yami hasn't cooled down any."
"Apparently." Yugi muttered with a hopeless sigh. "He's still acting so mad and very serious. I'm sorry I can't tell you much, Anzu, it's just honestly, I really don't know much myself."
She shook her heard softly, "It's okay." What I'm worried about is what Joey plans on doing. If he pursues this infatuation with Kaiba, he might knock Yami off the deep end. Yami isn't going to stand for that, Joey might lose his friendship with him. If he forgets about Kaiba, things will go back to normal.' She exasperatedly sighed, "Then again, Mokuba is like a little brother to us-and so Kaiba will always be there." She whispered.
"Did you say something, Anzu?"
"Huh? Uh, no. Nothing important. Hey, where is Yami?"
Yugi shrugged. "I don't know. He left off a while ago to call Grandpa and let'em know we made it fine. But he hasn't been back since…"
"That was a while ago, you think we should go look for him?" She asked troubled.
"Don't worry. Joey and I will go find him!" The two teens nearly jumped out of their skins. The tall brunet laughed.
"You scared the life outta me, Tristan!" Anzu gasped.
He smiled, "You two were so immersed in conversation I didn't want to interrupt. But, Joey and I will go see what's holdin' up Yami."
"Yeah. We'll be back in no time." Joey seconded.
Yugi shook his head, "Okay. Anzu and I will stay here, in case he comes back." All nodded.
"So man, what's been eatin' you?"
Joey blinked a few times but then dropped the clueless act. "It's nothin'. Besides, while I'm here 'Far away from HIM' I plan on kickin' back and enjoying myself. Nothing but fun and games, I say."
Tristan nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Now there's my old buddy, I knew he was somewhere in there." The two laughed and continued walking.
Joey felt higher in spirits now. As they searched around the telephones, they unfortunately didn't find Yami. "Where did he go?"
"Maybe he got lost on the way back?"
The blond shook his head, "Yami, get lost?"
"Yeah you're right. Well, let's split up. You go that way and I'll head to the right. We'll meet back with Anzu afterwards." Joey nodded. The two parted ways.
"Where did he go?" 'Man, should I be the one to find him? I mean, he must be upset with me too for the whole thing. He hasn't spoken to me at all, well he hasn't spoken to anybody.' He smiled lightly, it wasn't such a big deal and he wasn't going to think about it. He wasn't going to even remember that night with Kai-As he searched around the room however; 'he' caught his attention. "No way. I can't believe it…" He whispered distrustfully. And just like that, it seemed everything stood still, in a surreal, unearthly-twilight zone-kind of way. "No. What are you doing here?" Of all people to come walking his way, it had to be Kaiba. And he approached with all his glory, his handsome appeal. He just had to come walking back into the blonde's head. "I can't believe it's you." He still, was stuck in hopeful disbelief.
The brunet nodded once. "Well now, how ironic that the first one I see is you. By the surprise on your face, I see you haven't run into-"
Yami laughed in absolute cynicism. "This is too funny. What the hell are you doing here?" He asked with such crude negativity in his voice.
Kaiba looked him up and down and frowned as he and Tristan walked up. He rolled his eyes anger rising… Anger quickly rising…
Fury was radiating off his body. "Hey, I asked what you were doing here. Answer me." He demanded, rushing up to the other. He was pissed off most evidently.
Joey stepped, "Yami calm down."
The cool brunet smirked, just smirked and kept on, pushing aside the tri-colored other. "If I have to explain it to you, I might as well say it to you and your friends at one time. So come on." He retorted, not looking back.
Yami growled, clenching his fists tightly. "Hey, you shouldn't be here. Nobody wants to see you. You have to leave."
"I don't have to do anything." He corrected, stopping in his tracks and facing the other. "I'm getting pretty tired of your pathetic demands and you know, you're superiority complex really irritates me." He further added.
Yami was apparently deeply offended. "My superiority complex? Are you forgetting who you are? You're the biggest prick of them all. Whatever scheme you are-"
"Ugh, again with this 'scheme' nonsense. What are you, a broken record? Your accusations are getting old fast; maybe you should consider getting a new career besides being a crazy psychopath." He suggested, crossing his arms across his chest. Not ten minutes with him and he was already getting riled up this definitely wasn't good for his blood pressure.
He shook his head. "There's no reason for you to be here. You are up to something and dammit Kaiba, I'm going to make sure everybody sees what you really are."
"How ironic, since you're the one who's pretending to be the saint. You know, you can act like you're better than me, tell your dear friends that I'm the bad guy but the truth is, you're the monster. You are the bastard that has no heart whatsoever. And you can throw these blames at me, call me whatever you want but you will always be the loser." He replied exasperated.
Yami glared at him. "I'm the loser? I'm not the one who lost in our game remember? Ah yes, that was such an interesting day, wasn't it? I recall correctly, you're pathetic defeat so easily and vividly. You didn't stand a chance against me then, apparently you weren't much of anything after all." He smirked.
The blond pulled on Yami's arm. "Hey man, knock it off already. Please, don't start a fight." But the angered teen didn't so much as look at him.
Kaiba tensed but he refrained from revealing too much emotion, though that was a difficult task. He wanted so badly to rip him into shreds. He should've known Yami would bring that up. He always found it hilarious and delightful to bring it up and watch his animated response. But Kaiba wasn't going to fall prey to his little mind games, not this time. He was going to be smarter, a bit calmer than before. Instead of diving in, with all his might, he was going to take things slow. –Which actually wasn't his style, so hopefully this strategy would lead to the defeat Yami deserved.
"You know what, Yami." He paused to shake his head, his words calm and strong; clear, "You aren't even worth talking to. All you are is fake, an empty hollow moron that pretends to be someone they aren't. You aren't much of anything." His words stung straight through. Perhaps if he had shouted in hostile anger, in retaliation to Yami's taunt, the words wouldn't have left an impact as strongly as they did. Nonetheless, Kaiba had won that conversation as least. And it was just the beginning Kaiba wasn't through yet. But then, Yami wasn't finished either…
They all walked through the crowds of people, a certain two, avoiding eye contact and didn't consider striking up another heated discussion. Finally they settled upon a small group of recognizable people. And as Kaiba had already concluded, Mokuba was there talking it up with Yugi and Anzu.
"Hey, Seto, what took ya so long?" He asked, cheerfully beginning to run up to him, but he stopped when he caught glimpse of you-know-who behind him. "Hi, Yami." The youngest one greeted a bit hesitantly. Of course he knew the two weren't crazy about each other. "Hey, Joey, Tristan."
Kaiba checked his watch before nodding to his little brother. "We've wasted enough time here. Our ride should be waiting out front by now, let's go."
They laughed nervously, Anzu glancing quickly towards Joey. This wasn't exactly the vacation anyone was expecting. Kaiba sighed, "We don't have time to be standing around looking stupid. Are you ready or not?" He asked frustrated.
Yami stepped up confused. Joey swallowed hard; he once again didn't know what to think. Mokuba smiled, "Seto and I want all of you to stay at our hotel. It'll be super cool! Please?" He explained to Yami and threw in some very hard to deny puppy dog eyes to boot.
But the crimson-eyed teen wasn't in the mood for this. "That's crazy. Why on earth do you want us to stay at your hotel?" He asked bitterly, directing his question to of course the older Kaiba.
Mokuba sighed as his brother walked over to Yami. "You don't talk that way in front of my brother, understand? And let me tell you, I don't want you there,"
"Seto…" Mokuba mumbled.
"But it'd mean a lot to Mokuba and that's the only reason why I am inviting you. So stop being such a jerk about it and accept our invitation." He clarified quietly but with his cutthroat-business tone. "I'm not going to allow rude language to be spoken in front of my brother, so from now on you better watch what you say."
Yami was seething, boiling over with fury. 'The audacity of this guy…' He mentally growled. He turned to Mokuba though and nodded, "I'm sorry Mokuba." He turned his attention back to his adversary, 'I am going to make Mokuba see what you really are, Kaiba.' He vowed to himself.
Anzu cleared her throat. "Well, um, thank you both. This is so nice of you guys. But, I think we have spent enough time here, maybe we should get going now?" She broke in, trying to lighten the tension in the air.
Yugi nodded, "Yeah, let's get going." Everybody started walking towards the right entrance. Kaiba and Yami exchanged one last glare, a deep intense loathing gaze, before turning their ways and catching up with their appropriate groups.
Two black limousines awaited them as they exited out. "Mokuba and I will take one, the rest of you will ride in the other." Kaiba stated, which worked out fine for everyone.
But as Joey began walking with his friends, "Joey." The blond, thinking that maybe the brunet hadn't noticed him, halted. 'This can't be good.' He thought gloomily. "Joey, you'll come with Mokuba and me." He said, and Joey just about died.
Everyone else paused, "No way. Joey's ridin' with us." Tristan glared. He had seemed pretty calm and cool until now.
Anzu put her hand to her forehead and exhaled tiredly. "What?" Joey asked, hoping he didn't hear him correctly.
Kaiba rolled his eyes, "You will ride with us. So quit dawdling and get in." He ordered.
"He's not riding with you." Yami protested.
Mokuba ran his hands through his long, raven locks, "Please stop fighting, Yami. I want Joey to ride with Seto and me. Why are all of you acting so weird for?" He asked so innocently. Kaiba wanted to smirk. Finally, he wasn't the one irritating the younger one. "We're all going to the same place, what difference does it make? Unless, you don't wanna ride with me, Joey?" He asked questionably.
Joey was at a loss. "Of course I wanna ride wit' you, Mokuba. Let's go guys." He replied, walking to the other limo.
"Joey." Tristan called still upset about the arrangement. Yami breathed deeply, heatedly as Yugi and Anzu went ahead and climbed into the luxurious vehicle. First Mokuba got in, then Joey and finally Kaiba. The doors were closed and they were soon on their way to The Kaiba Hotel.
"Right. Compile everything that is left over onto my desk and leave it untouched, I will attend to it upon my return." He hung up the phone and checked his watch with a set and stern expression on his face.
Joey sat there unmoving and absolutely uncomfortable. He thought this would be a blessing in disguise, escaping for a while to regain his thoughts and clear out his emotions, but of course fate had something far more excruciating for him. 'Why does this hafta happen to me? Why is he here of all places?' Kaiba stared off out the window. Mokuba had drifted off into dream world, obviously a bit tired of the late-night flight into America. So as always when the brunet and blond were together it was too silent for comfort.
'Right when I was forgetting all about that kiss, something like this has to come up. What should I do now? Should I even bother asking him about it?' He quickly glanced a split-second glance in the other's direction and he gulped, 'that would be stupid. Am I goin' crazy? Seriously, to even consider asking Kaiba about that is like begging for him to insult and hurt me.' He drummed his fingers on his leg, he was not only uncomfortable but he had to sit right beside the object of his desire. His jumbled thoughts and emotions were doing a fine number on him as he kept thinking about that one moment where their lips barely touched.
Kaiba was a bit calmer and well, his mindset was focused on someone else and his tone was nothing of the pleasant kind. At the moment, there was no point in messing with Joey's head because he decided that Yami was a bigger problem. And, perhaps if he beat Yami at something, the rest of the group would go down 'And away' with him, since he was sort of the 'leader' of their rag-tag group. And it was to this that he questioned his judgment on his recent motives towards Joey. He could feel the uncertainty radiating off the nervous blond sitting beside him very easily and deeply, it was so thick he had no choice but to feel it. He sighed softly, still keeping his eyes peeled out the window, contemplating his next move. Now that he ignited Joey's hormones, things were going to get a bit complicated. This was a bit of a setback since he had no need with the blond and in that, he was no longer important.
But, unfortunately, the mutt would probably be hanging around trying to see if something was possible between them. Kaiba held back a smirk and a laugh at the thought of Joey having such strong emotions towards him. 'He loves me.' Kaiba reminded himself but the tone wasn't as cruel or insensitive as it seemed. He refrained from laughing, from bringing out the truth and humiliating the blond because it was something that didn't seem possible. 'How could he possibly want me?' Was the question that plagued his mind mostly of all the other ones that he thought of. It was a bit inconceivable that over the years of mockery and cruelty, Joey could be romantically devoted to him. And in that embarrassing respect, for embarrassing is what it was, he couldn't dare be cruel enough to call it in his face and expose his secret in front of his friends.
Of course, cruelty brought up another related topic. Actually, it brought forth his first dilemma that he sidetracked from. What was he supposed to do now that Joey was exasperating and blushing like a ten-year old girl? 'If I do anything to contradict those things I said last night, Yami will throw it in my face and I'll be the wrong-doer again. So, somehow I have to get Joey to understand that there will be nothing between us.' He furrowed his brows in this perplexed situation, which didn't seem like it'd be so complicated really.
And then an idea popped into his head. 'I know I rejected the idea but, now that I think it over it could work. If I keep love-struck Joey by my side it'll irritate Yami and knowing him, he'd do anything to keep his friends away from me. Yami is too predictable and' He glanced through the corner of his eye at a tense, still Joey before he reverted to the window, 'he'll hate the idea of Joey wanting me more than him. The sick bastard would never accept it. It's simple. He's so possessive that losing his friends will reveal what he is and finally Mokuba will be through with them and that'll be the end of all this pathetic mediocrity.'
Kaiba stared, this time completely, at Joey with an intense gaze. "Hey, Wheeler, what's wrong with you?" He asked. So for his plan he'd need the blond to trust him enough to actually tell the tri-colored prick off, and for that he'd have to pretend to be a friend. Hopefully it wouldn't kill him before he could 'exact revenge'. But he already had his help coming in soon so he should survive making nice for a while.
"Nothing, why do you ask?"
The brunet sighed and shrugged, "You seem a little bit scared of something. You sure it's just nothing?" He asked, letting a little concern seep in. Joey blushed.
Yami sat perched still in his seat. Gazing out the window he did not at all see what was going on outside though, he was too busy figuring out what possible ideas were roaming that ever-so-cocky jerk. 'I'm not paranoid. I know he's doing something but what could it possibly be? Why did he demand Joey ride with him? Mokuba said he wanted him to ride with them but it's something more. Whatever the hell was going on in that room that night has something to do with it as well. Why would he want to seduce Joey? What reason would provoke him to do such a sick and demented idea? Unless he knows how much it would bother and irritate me. That must be it. Damn Kaiba.'
"Yami maybe you should try to relax a little." Anzu suggested breaking his train of thought.
He blinked a few times and swallowed hard. He nodded with a smile and pretended to listen and accept her advice. Fine, he wouldn't be able to do much with his dear friends thinking he was obsessing and getting carried away. 'I guess I'll have to do this secretly then. At least I won't be alone in finding out the truth.' He checked his watch and relaxed. 'He'll be here pretty soon.'
Marik started laughing. He couldn't contain the situation that he was in, it was just something he hadn't expected. He breathed in and exhaled with a last chuckle before turning to face his 'company'. "Oh come on, Ryou, this is too good."
The white-haired teen shook his head. "Why do I have to sit next to a maniac?"
"Because it's all about fate and karma." He replied simply.
"Fate and karma?"
He shrugged, "What else would it be? Seriously, you and I both on the same flight to America what could be more suitable than to have each other sitting side by side?" This was very amusing to him.
Ryou fought back the humor that really was evident, and settled for a grim, serious mood. "Really, I don't think it's all that funny." He replied.
Marik looked over at him and smiled, "Hey where's your sense of humor? Did you leave it at the airport?" The other stared out the window and said nothing. "Well, I guess it's appropriate that we no longer be friends, since you've joined up with Yami."
Ryou scoffed, "Why does it have to be my fault? Kaiba started this whole thing."
Marik groaned and cringed, "Please, please, please! I hear enough of this 'you started it' crap between Yami and Kaiba, don't you start reciting it too. Damn. Let's face the facts all right? They both hate each other, both of them were humiliated and well, both have this power-complex. So for sanity's sake, they both are responsible for this situation."
Ryou sighed, "Well, I agree with that."
He nodded, "What I don't get still, is why you are on this plane. I know Yami summoned you to come last minute because you weren't asked to come yesterday. Man, I hate how gullible you are."
"What do you mean by that?"
"You're like his slave all of a sudden. He doesn't trust you, he treats you like dirt, and you still come to his beck and call. Ryou, even Kaiba never treated you like that. In fact, he listens and respects you, or at least he did until you decided to partner up with his enemy. You know what that is? That's betraying the people that actually gave a damn about you. That's disrespect."
He choked down that bit of information, "What about you? Kaiba must've told you to get the next flight down here as well."
He rolled his eyes, "But there's a difference. Kaiba actually takes my advice and acknowledges my existence and he does it without the standard superiority tone. He treats me like a friend would, you know that though. He treated you the same." Ryou couldn't think of anything to say after something so grim and, yes, true.
Kaiba feigned a stretch and now his arm rested a bit above Joey's shoulders. The melting blond bit his lip at the subtle action, while Kaiba pretended to think nothing of it. It was all part of the plan after all. "Joey,"
And there was that soft pronunciation of his name again, just like that night, just like outside the school and in his limo before they went to his company. The weak puppy stared over at the brunet that was leaning towards him and had his arm hanging closer over him. "W-what?" He croaked.
"Why are you always so nervous around me?" He asked in too light a tone. Joey was stuck. He had no idea how to answer that, being in such close proximity of the man of his aching heart.