For Granted Chapter X, a yu-gi-oh fanfic

ctiTitle: For Granted (10)

Author: Kun II Kya

Rating: R

Summary: Katsuya learns to never take things for granted.

--/--

"'No, that's not it at all'," he quoted. "'I'm not a fag—that's disgusting and the very idea of being with Kaiba is equally disgusting'." He sighed, closing his suddenly very heavy eyelids. "It's alright. I heard you."

Oh, shit.

"That about sums it up," his inner critic commented wryly.

He had wholly forgotten about that conversation. In the midst of Izumi's sudden appearance, trailing after Melissa Herbert in search of clues, and the fact that Seto had a great big gaping hole in the side of his body, Katsuya had forgotten about that particular discourse. Reflecting over it, he now realized that he had only said such a thing to placate Mai and it was wholly false. But Seto didn't know that.

He had long since passed over Mai in favor of Seto as the object of his affections. Even if he denied it constantly, to Izumi as well as to his own self, it was now glaringly true. He was attracted to Seto. He cared for Seto, much more than platonic friends should, but perhaps as lovers would.

Lovers? That sounded much firmer than "boyfriends" and implied committing himself to the man that now lay, injured, on the bed. Was he ready to take Seto as his lover?

There was the obvious, he mused. Seto was an attractive man. Those arresting eyes, those slender hands, those sharp cheekbones, that aquiline nose…while separate they might've proved to be a fairly decent distraction, strung together they made up the absolutely enchanting persona that was pure Seto.

On to more complicated matters. There were so many things that could go wrong. They were virtually on opposite sides of the spectrum in manners, personalities, views…even looks. What if they clashed constantly? He had lusted after the preserved image of Seto in his mind. Would the real Seto fall short of his expectations or pass beyond his imagination in a way he hadn't thought possible?

The idea scared him. Real life and real people were so much harder to deal with than what he'd envisioned in his mind. But he looked at Seto now, so strangely vulnerable against the stark white backdrop of his hospital bed…Seto who was staring at him with such a self-deprecating twist to his lips and raw, painful intensity in his eyes…

He would die for this man—many times over.

"Why aren't you gone yet?" Seto queried and his voice was unquestionably tired, not impatient like before.

"I-I don't want to leave you," the blonde answered quietly. His voice betrayed his uncertainty.

Seto's lips twisted into a satirical smirk. "I'm afraid that I do not feel inclined to suffer the aftereffects of your pity at the moment. I believe that I've both the resources and means to contact a qualified individual should I require any additional medical assistance. There—your ridiculous sense of duty is assuaged. If you are finished trampling on the remnants of my dignity, kindly leave. Be sure to shut the door on your way out, if it is not too much trouble."

Katsuya looked pained. "Please don't do this."

The brunet met his gaze and Katsuya suddenly felt the full impact of Seto's weary stare.

"Do what?"

"You said you'd let me in," he accused. "Don't shut me out now."

"I already let you in," Seto ejaculated in fury, "and you made damn well sure that I knew what a mistake it was. It's been a month since I told you and you apologize to me now, when I'm at death's door? What do you think that tells me, Katsuya? Huh? I keep telling myself to not believe a single word you're saying, because it's most likely out of that damned misguided sense of duty that tells you to make me happy right before I kick the bucket!" He took in a deep breath through clenched teeth. "Well, you know what? I don't need you anymore. Melissa was right—you're not worth the time or effort!"

Katsuya closed his eyes in anguish. It was true. Everything that Seto had just spouted—despite the fact that they stemmed from the month-long pain he'd felt—was true. It wasn't like he never had the incentive or encouragement to apologize to Seto. Izumi had stressed that fact before she'd left for Japan. That damned, irritatingly smug voice inside his head knew full well what he had to do and he hadn't pulled his foot out of his mouth long enough to remedy the state of matters. But then, things were going to change around here.

"Do you really mean that?" he queried.

The brunet slumped back on the bed and he could see the other's hand, moving restlessly while trying to satiate his half-healed wound. Seto opened his mouth with the foulest expression on his face, most likely in the process of saying something hurtful, then seemed to reconsider it and sighed. The sigh was long and drawn out and sent stabs of guilt rushing through the blonde.

"Yes, I do."

The guilt transformed into hurt—a hurt so achingly poignant and distressing that it left a sharp, bitter aftertaste in his mouth. It took him a while to realize that the coppery taste was blood; he'd bitten his tongue. Meanwhile, all he could do was stare at Seto with an increasing sense of despair and—he was sure—the most pathetic wounded expression on his face.

"No, I don't," Seto conceded in an immensely fatigued voice. "I lied. No matter how hard I try to deny it, I can't help the fact that I'm still hopelessly head over heels in love with you." He fixed Katsuya with a stare filled to the brim with the utmost compassion. "You're worth a lot more than you give yourself credit for, Katsuya."

Katsuya felt a rush of déjà vu. Wasn't that what Yuugi had told him right after the horrific separation from Mai? Wasn't that what Mai herself told him after they'd made up and kissed? And yet, somehow…the fact that it was Seto saying those words assuaged his sensibilities in a way none of the other two had managed to.

"Please," Katsuya whispered. "Believe me when I say I'm sorry. I've grown to care for you more than I've ever cared about anyone in my life and I couldn't stand it if I knew I'd given up the only chance I had to be with you. I regret the way I treated you earlier…please, let me in again."

Seto stared at him for one long moment with an unidentifiable emotion in his eyes. Those bright cerulean eyes were glazed over by multiple layers of pain, of regret, of the bittersweet tang of unrequited love—no, it wasn't unrequited anymore—and yet, somehow, Katsuya found them to be the most stunning things he'd ever seen in his life.

Slowly but surely, the brunet drew back the covers on his large bed and patted the space beside him. A small smile appeared on his lips and Katsuya fancied it rivaled those comely eyes for the title of "most stunning". He didn't hesitate to crawl under the covers with Seto and wrap his long, lanky body around the other.

It was…bliss.

--/--

"But you're not healed, dammit! It's only been three weeks!"

Katsuya was frantic with anxiety. He knew that Mokuba had been worried sick about his big brother and while Seto was in America, there was no other method of checking up on him besides the phone and Internet. He'd thought the younger boy was satisfied with that and the occasional webcam enhanced conversation via messenger.

He remembered clearly how amused Mokuba was yesterday by a bubbly girl magazine's interpretation of the Melissa Scandal, as they dubbed it. Surprisingly enough, the magazine came closer to the truth than most of the mainstream newspapers, though Katsuya was pleasantly surprised to discover that apparently no, Seto hadn't been shot, but merely stabbed 27 ½ times in the same spot with a blunt hair pick.

"I can walk around the house fine," the brunet insisted petulantly. "Mokuba's been out of his mind with worry because he thinks I'm lying about my health and I'm tired of him yelling at me through the phone."

"No." He was going to stay firm on this decision, dammit.

Seto shot him a pointed look.

He sighed. "Fine, you can go."

His lips twisted into a wry smirk and he pressed a kiss to Katsuya's lips before murmuring, "Thank you, Mother."

Katsuya snorted. "You just kissed your mother, then."

--/--

Seto fancied that his body took a sort of vicious delight in tormenting him at this time of the day. The wound was barely healed and itched something terrible whenever he was outside. He never thought it'd manage the feat of itching and stinging at the same time, but somehow the damned thing pulled it off spectacularly during their whole plane trip.

The brunet smiled as he remembered how much Katsuya had fussed and henpecked during their brief stop at San Francisco. The espresso roast he'd managed to weasel out of Katsuya was now snugly settled at the bottom of his stomach.

"Are we there yet?" Katsuya whined from his left. The blonde had recently awoken from his nap and was now fiddling with the music controls on the arm of his chair. Music blared from the headphones as he twiddled with the knobs. "It's been thirteen hours."

A sardonic smile twitched at his lips. "We've three more hours and another terminal change to go."

Katsuya puffed an agitated sigh from betwixt full lips. "You just had to go and choose one of the overnight flights, didn't you?"

"I bought the tickets yesterday," he replied sarcastically. "You should be grateful that we have a flight." He glanced out the window and distractedly counted the fluffy white clouds. "Even though I spent way too much on it."

They landed in Japan five and a half hours later, much to Katsuya's chagrin. Their flight had arrived late while they were waiting at the Dallas/Fort Worth airport and Seto complained two more espresso roasts out of the blonde before it arrived an hour and a half off schedule. The ensuing chaos and bustle to get on the plane before it lifted off cost them another precious hour.

"Jou!" a familiar voice yelled as soon as they emerged from the gateway.

Katsuya took one look at the person yelling, dropped the suitcase he was carrying for Seto, and bolted across the floor to grab Yuugi in a bear hug. Seto smiled fondly at the sight. Honda and Anzu were off to one side, holding hands and watching the two friends reunite with affectionate smiles on their faces. Shizuka and Otogi tentatively made their way over to Katsuya after he'd released Yuugi.

Seto hissed in pain as a black blur flew right into his midsection. He chuckled—despite the complaint his wound made—and ruffled Mokuba's hair. He had cut it back to shoulder length while Seto was away.

"NII-SAMA!" the little boy yelled joyously. His grip tightened on Seto's stomach. "I've missed you so much! Are you okay!"

Seto winced and disentangled himself from his little brother's grip. He placed a hand to his shoulder and winked at the other.

"I'm fine, just a little worse for the wear," he replied. "I did get shot, after all."

Mokuba's expression hardened. "I should be very mad at you, nii-sama."

His lips curved into a smile. "For what?"

"For messing with Melissa Herbert, of course," the raven-haired boy responded as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "And getting yourself shot."

He winced; Mokuba didn't know the full details of the Melissa Scandal. And by details, he meant what vital piece of information Melissa had dangled over his head for so long. All his little brother knew was that he had been indeed blackmailed and escaped with the loss of quite a pretty penny along with the large gaping hole in his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Mokuba," he replied instead. "The next time someone points a gun at me, I'll be sure to tell them that my little brother has forbidden me to ever get shot again."

Mokuba's bottom lip jutted out petulantly. "You better." He paused, then continued, "Where's Jou? Was he there when you got shot?"

"Jou?" Seto answered. "He's over…"

Fuck. Yuugi and the rest of Katsuya's friends had long since stepped aside. Mai Kujaku had, apparently, recently arrived and was stalking across the space separating them with long strides. She had on a billowing sundress that twirled attractively about her knees. Her long blonde hair—even longer than he last remembered—was tied back into a ponytail at the back of her head and swung with every step she took. Katsuya had stilled and was staring at her with a dazed expression on his face.

Tell her, his mind implored. Tell her that we're together and you love me. Tell her that you don't want her anymore!

Katsuya merely snapped out of his daze when Mai flung herself into his arms and he twirled her around. The sight made Seto sick. So be it.

He snapped his mouth shut in mid-answer. He glanced down at Mokuba, who was alternating between staring at him and Mai with a confused expression on his face.

"He's over there," he answered cryptically. "Let's go home."

"Already?" Mokuba whined. "But Jou's not—"

"Home, Mokuba."

--/--

Oh, no, Katsuya thought distantly. It was Mai and she was approaching with a speed he hadn't thought her capable of before. Two months ago he would've been overjoyed to see Mai. He would've swept her into his arms with the blind affection he had for her and lovingly remind her that she had promised to wait for him.

But two months is a long time. A lot of things changed during the past two months. And most of all, during the previous two months, he'd learned the true value of one Seto Kaiba. And frankly, he scared himself a bit with the intensity of his emotions for the brunet. Nothing Mai could do would ever change that.

He hastily wiped the dazed expression from his face.

"Katsuya!" Mai giggled, throwing herself into his arms with a careless abandon only she could pull off. Katsuya found himself twirling her around in his arms like he used to. "It's been so long!"

Katsuya somehow found a smile to plaster on that was relatively authentic. "Yeah…it's been two months. How are you, Mai?"

The female smiled demurely, suddenly hesitant, and reached one slender hand up to tuck a wayward lock of hair behind her ear. She shifted impossibly closer to Katsuya.

"I've been waiting for you," she replied simply.

He flashed the awkward smile. "I'm glad."

Mai looked momentarily surprised. "That's all you have to say to me?" She glanced around and realization dawned on her. "Oh, I get it." She winked. "It's because all your friends are standing right here, aren't they?" She giggled. "You're so impossibly cute, Katsuya."

He winced. She didn't seem to notice, however, and cast an appraising eye over the lot of them. She then wrapped a perfectly manicured hand around Katsuya's arm—he was forcibly reminded of Melissa—and turned the both of them around to face Katsuya's friends. They were all smiling indulgently.

"Katsuya and I"—here, she cast a decidedly seductive glance in his direction—"have some things we need to talk about. May I borrow him for a moment? I promise I'll bring him right back, unharmed." She winked.

Yuugi smiled benignly. "As long as he's returned to us, unharmed."

Katsuya inwardly cringed. Mai, however, smiled at the comment and slid her hand downwards to intertwine her fingers between his. There was a light tug on his hand and she led him in the direction of the café across the pathway. She found them seats while he silently contemplated his options.

The waitress bounced over and flipped the pad in her hand to the nearest customer check. She smiled chirpily and said, "Welcome. My name is Jane and I'll be your waitress for today. May I take your order?"

---

The waitress walked after him, followed by Katsuya, and placed their menus on the table. She pulled out a note pad from her back pocket and flipped it to the first blank customer's check.

She smiled. "My name is Jane and I'll be your waitress today. What can I get you to drink?"

---

"A blueberry muffin, please," Mai responded quickly, "and a decaf coffee."

Jane scribbled down the order and turned to Katsuya expectantly.

"Lemonade."

She smiled—yet again—and wrote it down before leaving to gather their items.

---

Kaiba glanced at the back of the menu—the beverage section—for a moment before replying, "Coffee, please."

Katsuya took considerably longer. He kept flipping through the menu in search of the beverage section before the brunet took pity on him and deftly flicked it to the right page.

"…Do you have lemonade?"

"Certainly, sir."

"I'll have that, then."

Jane scribbled his order down on her notepad and prepared to leave. "I'll be back in a few minutes to take your order."

---

"I am really sorry about Keith, Katsuya," Mai started as soon as the waitress left. "I promise that it'll never happen again." Here, she paused and smiled charmingly. "Take me back."

Katsuya shifted uncomfortably in his chair and tugged at the collar of his crisp dress shirt. "I'm sorry," he murmured softly in response, "but I'm already in a relationship with—

" His eyes widened. "SETO!"

--/--

"How could I be so remarkably dense?" he questioned himself in anger. "It's obvious that he's still madly in love with Mai. And I…I put all my hopes on him." He closed his eyes briefly in pain. "Fuck. That hurts."

Seto wasn't necessarily talking about the injury in his side, though it did smart as he stalked up the stairs and down the corridor that led to the master bedroom. He found that the truth hurt more than the physical strain on his body.

"I shouldn't have let myself feel," he murmured softly. "Everything was so much easier when I didn't care about anyone and no one cared about me. Now…dammit, Katsuya, I love you!"

He strode through the doorway and slammed the cherry wood door with all the strength he could muster. He found that the mighty slam that resulted didn't help abate the sharp, stinging pain in his chest any. Rather, Seto thought as he pressed a shaky hand to his shoulder, it only hurt him more. There was blood seeping through the bandage; specks of it dotted his shirt. Seto sighed and dropped his face into his hands.

"Well, well," a voice behind him drawled faintly, "what do we have here?"

The brunet stiffened and, one by one, dropped his hands from his face. He straightened his torso and fixed his gaze on a point beside the door, eyes closing briefly in anguish.

He opened them. "Fancy seeing you here."

to be continued