Algol: So…I lost my creative desire, which is why it took so long to type this up. I was sort of lost on how to continue this story too. I'm sorry if this chapter is a little disjointed, but I just want to try and get in the swing of things again.
Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh.
Summary: Kaiba knows just how to get what he wants with Yami, or so he thinks.
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Chapter 12: Path of Most Resistance
The water was cold by the time Yami stepped out of the tub. But the chill that sank into the marrow of his bones was from much more than frigid bathwater. It was the chill of realization, and reality, that set his teeth on edge and shook the muscles in his arms. He didn't know how much of Seth still existed in Kaiba. It angered Yami more than anything to know that someone so precious to him…to his past self…was reborn in someone so…so cold-hearted and selfish. Those soft blue eyes, so gentle and warm, are as far from Kaiba's glacial gaze as fire is from ice.
Yami stared into the bathroom mirror; the condensation long-since dissipated leaving only a spotty film on the surface of the medicine cabinet. His hair was almost dry now, and resumed its spiky shape. But Yami could care less about what his hair looked like on a day-to-day basis. Living without a body in the depths of an ancient puzzle left him with little sense of vanity. Instead he saw only a representation of someone who was lost in between worlds. The world he left, where Seth and the rest of his people once lived, and the world where Yugi and his friends brought him comfort and companionship as best they could manage.
It was also the world where Seth was reborn into something so far removed from his former self that Yami suspected only the strongest of love could find him again. Were they only comparable in body alone? Was that the reason Yami thought he loved Kaiba?
The old spirit let out a resigned sigh. No…I don't think I love him, I know I do. Whether or not Kaiba was not someone who loved him back, it couldn't change how Yami felt about the man. That's how love was, that's how it would always be. It was delightful and torturous and painful and joyful…and confusing as all hell.
Yami exited the bathroom and quietly meandered over to his bed. It was late. Yugi was already asleep, the little nose whistle Yami found endearing was sounding softly as he gazed over at his friend. He was lucky, he knew, to have found Yugi. Without him Yami would still be in that shapeless void where the only thing he knew were his most painful memories.
He shook his head, dispelling the thought, and located the book Yugi left near the vase of lotus flowers. Perhaps Yugi was right, perhaps he could find out why these flowers meant so much to him, why his memory was so entangled in the scent and memory of the white petals. He opened to the page with the symbol of a lotus and a description of basic uses in Egyptian times. They were used to adorn coffins, and even chariots riding into war, and were given as gifts of love and worship, to both lovers and gods. It was nothing particularly noteworthy until he came across the "Feast of Lotus." Suddenly Yami's hands tightened and he read the passage quickly.
"According to old myths, it was said that the ancient Egyptians used to sing for the lotus in their parties. Moreover, they used to set a day to be the feast of lotus. During this feast, every one was supposed to hold a silver pot, shaped like a lotus with a burning candle in its middle. Then,everyone was supposed to head for the Nile, with the pot in his hand and an overwhelming dream in his heart. According to the old myth, it was believed that if the burning candle continued floating on the surface of water, the dream would come true.(1)"
Yami thought carefully, So that's what Seth was talking about when he wanted to know what dream I kept in my heart that day. Yami could not remember it exactly, but he was certain it had something to do with the person he loved. He looked at the flowers in the glass vase still shining so prettily in the pale moonlight streaming through the windows. They would probably die soon, but for now they seemed none the worse for wear. He touched the petals gingerly, trying to conjure the memory of the feast of lotus. After a time, he gave up and closed the book sharply. It seemed he was subject to the whim of his own memories, and while the lotus may have only offered a small tidbit of his past, he knew someone who knew even less than he did.
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Seto Kaiba couldn't sleep. He rarely slept for more than five hours it's true, but tonight he was especially restless. The bait was set days ago, and still he heard nothing from Yami. He didn't even hear badmouthing from Yugi and his little friendship gang. Nothing. And it was the silence that was driving him mad. Seto Kaiba, in short, won at everything he set foot in; games, business, manipulation…everything. And the idea that maybe his bait had failed…well…it left him with the sour taste of failure in his mouth.
It was not something he tasted often.
Kaiba swung his legs off the bed and bowed his head in thought. He was a genius, he thought of the best possible course of action and took it without err. He plotted and schemed a way around Yami's heart, and with it all of the knowledge he possessed. He calculated the best course of action, and here it was…failing in front of him. It wasn't possible. Kaiba cursed loudly, and stalked over to the window by his bed. The moon was still bright in the cloudless night, and anyone but Kaiba would linger over its pristine beauty. Instead Kaiba heard it mocking him and he ground his teeth in frustration. A few moments later he took a deep breath and calmed himself. He never did his best work while anger reined his thoughts. That was for idiots like Joey. No, he could only prevail if he didn't lose his head. Kaiba leaned against the window frame and thought carefully, his mind fully exploring every strategic combination. He knew for a fact that Yami was more familiar with whatever past they once shared and if Lotus flowers were a trigger for him, then for Yami they were even more potent. Ok…so what are all the reasons Yami isn't running to me now? Kaiba counted off several, not bothering to calculate fear as a reason since, much to Yami's credit, fear was something the spirit lacked in most cases. And it would never prevent him from facing any dilemma head on with a passionate zeal. After much mulling, Kaiba finally came to the best possible conclusion: He had jumped the gun a bit early. His tactic would work. Yami would come to see him any day now, greeting him with acerbic words and blaming him for torturing his mind every moment of the day. Kaiba, of course would deny the accusations and claim he had better things to do than drop flowers off in the middle of nowhere just to see what it would do to Yami's well-being.
Kaiba smirked. That was pretty much true…except he paid someone else to do it so he could watch from the sidelines…so to speak. The daily reports were always the same, leading Kaiba to believe his little memory triggers were not working as well as he thought they would. But he had been too anxious and too preemptive in his conclusions. Seto Kaiba's shadowed smile winked in the pale light. Yami was going to come to him, that much was true. It was only a matter of time. And when he did…Yami would break.
Kaiba would make certain of that.
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Yami woke up early, two hours before Yugi was supposed to wake up for school. He got dressed and casually walked downstairs to the kitchen. He wasn't particularly hungry so he decided to only take a bottle of water from the fridge. Sugoroku wasn't downstairs, which meant he must have gone out earlier for a walk in the park with the other seniors in the neighborhood. It was a new thing for the older man, who decided he needed another hobby that didn't involve the dangers of archeology. Yami surmised the new stint would last maybe a week or two before the older man was back at the museum insisting to look at the newest finds.
Yami stood alone in the living room, accompanied only by the sound of the clock on the kitchen wall. He sipped his water stoically before placing the cap back on and setting it on the coffee table. He woke up determined to do something about his troubles, but now he wasn't quite sure what he should be doing. Moping in bed certainly never helped him, which is why he decided to forego sleep. It was quite an amazing feat actually, and even Yami silently congratulated himself. But his internal celebration was short-lived and he soon felt numb again. What was the point of all of this? To mourn the loss of his only love for the rest of his long life? And what was the point in loving Kaiba, a man whose very nature compelled him to be the biggest bastard on the planet?
The pharaoh growled and planted himself on the sofa. He couldn't have a moment's peace nowadays. His mind was always in turmoil, his heart was always anxious for…something to happen. It was like he expected something to suddenly click, and he would know what he had to do. He would accept what he had to do…and live happily with his friends. But he knew that such peace was far from his grasp. And even more intrinsically, he knew that real peace might forever escape him. Because to know peace was to know the truth…and that resolution meant he might finally know the darkness in his own heart. He shivered involuntarily and clamped his hands together.
Yami knew there was a darkness waiting to be illuminated. It was a darkness that would reveal something…beyond his imaginings, and he experienced an acute anxiety whenever he thought of the possibilities, even more so because of what he found at Phantom Manor not long ago. That book of spells…was something unnatural. But it struck a chord inside of him and it was still vibrating deep within his soul, no matter how many times he pushed it away from the surface of his thoughts. The love spell in particular made his teeth ache and his eyes sting. Just thinking about it…
Suddenly Yami felt pain on his forearm and he looked down. His fingers were clawing his forearm, stacking curls of skin under the nails of his right hand. He looked down on the blood that pooled into tiny red drops and quickly wiped them on his pant leg. But the blood rose to the surface of his scratched arms again and he was forced to apply a bandage on them. After cutting off the extra tape with his teeth, Yami quickly shrugged on his jacket and left the Mutou Residence.
He was quickly going insane, Yami determined. Since when did he endeavor in self-mutilation? However involuntary it was, he was never going down that path. Weaknesses only made a person stronger. Someone who thought they had no weaknesses would never strive to become stronger. The ancient spirit curled his hands into fists as he stalked down the sidewalk. He would overcome this obstacle like everything else that ever stood in his way. The only difference was he wasn't used to standing up to save himself. It was easy to lay down everything for friends, for love, for life. But to stand up for…one's own sanity, well that was something he had never done.
After awhile Yami stopped when he realized he was going down the street headed for the small drive leading to the Kaiba Mansion. He gave the street sign a deathly stare and turned sharply on his heels. Like hell he was going to see Kaiba of all people, the same man who thought Yami was nothing more than a rival to top. In more ways than one even. Besides he told Yugi he would not go back to the mansion, and thus far Yami was true to his word. Any avenue was better than this one, Yami determined. So he headed for the neighborhood park, and since it was early still it was the perfect place to think quietly.
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:Asano Park; 6:35am: Kaiba read the note attached to his reconnaissance folder, easily deciphering the chicken scratch his informant genuinely called writing. It was the first time Yami was alone in a secluded area and this was the perfect time for Kaiba to see just how disturbed Yami was by his little "tokens of affection." The CEO sipped his coffee, thinking it tasted even better this morning with the distinct flavor of opportunity. He packed up his suitcase and, instead of working from home like he initially planned, he headed for the corporate office. On his way to the foyer he let a conspiratorial smirk grace his lips. I think I will take the long way today…through the park. The exercise will do me good.
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A/N: Well…there you have it. I apologize for the roughness of this chapter (and how short it is ); it was somewhat difficult to get out. I just sat at my desk and typed…so there might be a lot of things wrong with it atm. But I really wanted to post something new since it's been so long. I want to thank everyone who still reads this story!
(1) From touregypt. net