You heard this song and dance before but I truly am sorry. I have come to think of a way to end this pathetic lateness that I'm unfortunately getting better at. I figure maybe I should just start posting what I have written down every week, I'm not a fan of short chapters but I think it'd be best at least until I can figure out a way to manage it into my schedule a bit better ( and they hire some good people at work ). In the meantime I'm sorry for the extreme lateness and will hopefully do better in the future.

Rewriting The Soul

Chapter 25

Late-Night "Recess"?

The drive was a pretty long one but Kaiba wasn't necessarily paying much attention the road. Pegasus had pressed one of the many buttons on the control panel near the door and lowered a flat screen TV. They were currently watching the stocks and newest updates to 'Today's Technology". The older couldn't believe the other could watch it on a seemingly regular basis. 'Does his life honestly revolve around his work twenty-four seven?' He frowned. It was Seto Kaiba after all. He'd gotten a glimpse of the craziness and tormenting forms of "learning" his demented adopted father Gozaburo instructed.

He wondered just what would've happened to the one beside him had Mokuba not been around to keep a part of him human. As he recalled the things he'd ignored beforehand, he unconsciously found himself staring at the other. 'I wish I hadn't been so self-absorbed in my own insanity to acknowledge the pain and obstacles you surpassed. To overcome someone as domineering and cold as Gozaburo, you had to be tough, brave and resilient.'

Kaiba's eyes never left the hi-def monitor but even so he could feel the other's gaze bearing into him. For whatever the reason Pegasus was staring, he didn't like it. His calculating blue eyes, able to analyze and disperse anyone's confidence turned to his silent partner and assessed something that grew to become an ever growing irritation. Pegasus was thinking of him and it was a thought of pity and sympathy. The thought perhaps that the other was probably figuring the ways he'd done him wrong - even though Kaiba had already given his apology - or some other far off the radar circumstance the always unpredictable never purposely quiet CEO was revering him with pity and sympathy with whatever the reason, was a disrespect. "If there's something you want to say to me. Say so. Staring at me with such a blank stare is as annoying as it is rude." He murmured and returned his attention to the TV as a familiar person popped on the screen explaining the sequel to his growing-by-the-week Dungeon Dice Game.

Pegasus snapped out of his very in-depth philosophy and blushed his embarrassment. "You're right. I'm sorry Seto, something just caught my mind's attention and I zoned out. It was terribly rude of me indeed."

Kaiba's eyes fluttered closed with a bemused smirk, "Thinking of me again Pegasus?"

The older laughed lightly. "Why yes I was. Though telling you would probably put a damper on this otherwise wonderful evening." The brunet nodded. "This has been a really nice evening though.

Kaiba sighed softly. "Hn."

Minutes passed and Kaiba was beginning to realize the time flying by and it was half-past eleven already - it didn't take THAT long to get to his place. His eyes drifted from what he assumed a cruel distraction to the objects passing the window, he frowned. 'Lights... Flashing neon signs...' He could feel his right brow twitching. "Dammit Pegasus. Where are we headed?"

The other beamed as if proud of his devious trick, "A place that's become a favorite of mine." The brunet's lips parted to say a retort, Pegasus raised his hand in the air to 'shush' the other, and "It's a wonderfully put together place Great music and charisma, not necessarily the type of place where you'll see a lot of 'dirty-dancing' and you know slutty people. It's more sophisticated and really-"

"A real pain. Pegasus I told you we were not going to a club. I did say that right? Because I could swear I-"

"Now, now it isn't nice to swear."

Kaiba glared dully. "It isn't nice to kidnap someone either." He muttered. But to Pegasus surprise the other gave no more fight or words. He tried to look over his expression but Kaiba's gaze had set themselves out the window, he could tell the other wasn't particularly happy by how tight his arms were folded against the chest though. He couldn't help but feel a little victory made despite the other's negative response in any case.

Finally the car came to a stop as it pulled in front of a well-lit - but not flashing or blinding - building that appeared to be quite the popular outing. 'Great that means a lot of people. He was beginning to consider calling for his own personal staff to come rescue him from Pegasus insane plot to.. Whatever the hell it was that sparked this unnerving determination to give him a 'life' as people often attempted. What was wrong with his life anyway? From his point of view, it seemed pretty fantastic...

"I know you're upset with me and didn't want to come but come on give it a chance. I promise you'll like it." He pleaded. Kaiba blinked and realized that Pegasus was already out and leaning inward to ask him out of the car. With a defeated sigh, he complied. "You're gonna like this place."

"Hn." There was nothing wrong with Kaiba's life. It was fantastic. Why he didn't put his foot down about this... Well, he didn't know. Even now, he'd have every right in the world to call someone up and leave. Just because Pegasus liked this place didn't mean he would. So what if Pegasus wanted him to see it, that didn't mean he had to... Then why?

"Right this way Seto." He cheered and tugged on Kaiba by the arm. Maybe it was the way the other seemed to happy when around him. Kaiba mentally cursed himself (again) for the infectious disease that was making so sensitive and caring. Pegasus was a grown man that was very capable of getting through his own problems alone. Then again, it wasn't like the other had honestly pulled him into his problems.

'No. When thinking back on it, I've been the one to involve myself.' And the realization hit him a lot clearer than any time before. He did care about the welfare of Pegasus. He did care about his health. The sight of the other in one of those nightmarish dazes hurt him so deep. He hated that 'Shadow Realm' and all its mental degrade. It made you crazy. And Pegasus trying so hard to fix what he made broken when dealing with those dreams was... Made... Bothered him greatly.

After all, he'd become a terrorizing bastard once -or twice- before. That 'place' nearly killed him. No, scratch that - that 'place' did kill him every single night and then in cruel joke brought him back with the memory and a ghost of the fear-induced pain.

"... Staring at me with such a blank stare is as annoying as it is rude." Kaiba's eyes refocused and met with discolored browns. He smirked at the familiar statement. "No matter how cute it makes you look." He added just for fun.

Kaiba's face reddened as he pushed passed Pegasus. He swore the other must've enjoyed his reactions to those sorts of comments. 'I swear one of these days I'm going to pay him back for his tormenting little remarks.' "So,"

"Let's find a table and then I'll get us a couple of drinks." Pegasus finished and led the brunet to a smaller table towards the back - knowing Kaiba's preference to a less-crowded environment. "What would you like to drink by the way?" He asked as the other sat.

Kaiba shrugged not particularly 'thirsty' for anything at the moment, which was a shocker to himself. "Just whatever and double it." He muttered.

The older nodded and frowned. The other's presence gave such a depressing aura, "You need to lighten up and enjoy yourself. You have to admit this place is pretty nice."

Kaiba did find it quite enticing. The place had a somber but impacting melody - he believed by the wording in the song it was called Supernatural or something? It was pretty hypnotic to say the least and the lighting was neither too dark or intruding. The tables were painted a dark brown to contrast beautifully with the wooden floor light in color as the table was of the same dark allure. It was nice, the bar itself had a pattern of both the light and dark shades of brown, with friendly looking people who apparently knew Pegasus as they were engaged in a conversation about who knows what. 'Looks like I won't be getting my drink any time soon.'

He leaned back to relax as he listened to the music as it came to its ending. "Hello there. Are you waiting for someone?" Kaiba looked up to see a blond haired young woman with big blue eyes and a gentle smile. Her thick makeup gave her face an unusually charming glow with a bit of glitter that made her eyes seem to dance to their own merry beat. She sat beside him before he could say against it. "My name is DeiDei. Yours?" She offered her hand for a shake – appropriate for a first meeting of course.

Kaiba studied her for a second and inwardly cringed. Granted, she seemed like a really nice girl, very polite and gentle, kind and her eyes didn't seem to be misleading but – And this probably wasn't entirely her fault and he was sure there was a logical and explainable reason why BUT… Did she really just ask who he was? Did she not know that he was The Seto Kaiba? He sighed. He shook her hand gently and took a sparing glance to recognize the clothes she was wearing. Despite how sweet her face appeared, he'd found something else he didn't care for, in fact, something that totally turned him off. As the saying his younger brother had come to hear from a friend of his, 'She may not do the crime but she owns the uniform.' Yes. She didn't know who he was, and anyone that did know Seto Kaiba knew he was an egotistical son-of-a-bitch –not that his mother was anything so vulgar- and there was no way he was spending his time in the presence of a hooker-in-training.

"I'm sorry but you are at the wrong table." He said coolly. The girl frowned and slowly stood. She mumbled something to an apology and disappeared around the corner to where the bigger tables and dance floor resided.

He felt bad for the girl because in reality she probably was a nice girl just following the crowd or current trend of bearing all and leaving nothing to the imagination. But someone who can't think for themselves and set their own dreams and goals was not worth his time and if they didn't know who he was then they definitely weren't caught up in the latest technology. Which was a major downer to the CEO of Kaiba Corporation. "Oi! Kaiba I thought that was you!"

His eye twitched at the shrieking familiarity. 'Now here comes a bunch I wish didn't know me.' He groaned. It was too late to hide or get away since the all-too-irritating Dream-Team was standing before his table. "What are you guys doing here?"

"Us? What are you doin' here?" The only blond of the group retorted.

Kaiba looked his past nuisance up and down, noting how well the other had actually grown. He seemed to attend a gym regularly or just stayed fit, which he supposed was good. All of them looked like they were about to do a gang bang, each clad in black with chains here and there. Anzu was the only one that offered any sort of difference with her pink highlights and dark pink stripes through the pattern on her clothes. They all grew pretty well he always forgot how much they'd matured since he never saw any of them. The last time, come to think of it was that horrible party he cared not to remember. "And why would I offer an explanation to a mutt? Hm?"

Jounouchi growled lowly and mimicked rolling up his sleeve –mimicked because he had no sleeves to begin with, which Kaiba thought funny- "What? I'm a lot bigger now Kaiba, call me a mutt again and we can handle this outside."

"Jounouchi…" Yugi muttered.

Kaiba stood up and smirked. The blond was right, he'd gotten taller but Kaiba was still taller even if by only an inch. 'Still better.' "Forgive me mutt, old habits die hard and all. Furthermore if you really want to take this 'outside' then this only proves my point about you."

"You guys knock it off." Honda interjected.

"And what point is that?" The blond asked always a glutton for the CEO's insults.

"You haven't learned your place. The truth is you are beneath me and no matter how hard you try you can't at anything." He sneered. It was amazing how old habits indeed carried on. It felt so routine, this whole argument; it was like being back at school instead of the crowded thumping club they were in. Kaiba wasn't as cruel as he was back then and he didn't necessarily find this as amusing and satisfying as he did back when they were reckless teens. Still, for old times sake and the blond always got on his nerves to begin with.

"Is that right? I dare you to put your big words to the test." He growled but managed to keep his voice from rising. Kaiba had to admit the other was showing great resilience and above that restraint. The other would've already thrown a punch or two regardless of the surrounding. He remembered one time when Jounouchi had been trying to punch his lights out and was so furious he ended up knocking out their homeroom teacher. Needless to say they both ended with detention and Jounouchi was suspended for a week too.

"Now, now, settle down." Kaiba folded his arms as his… Well what would you call him? Pegasus squeezed through and handed Kaiba a long black glass shaped like a twelve-inch cylinder. The brunet sat back down. "Yugi, Yami, it is good to see you guys again."

Jounouchi seemed to calm down and settle too. Maybe he wasn't as angry either? It was amazing what time did to someone. Well, Kaiba still hated spending time with them and listening to them. And, 'huh I guess time doesn't change too much.'

Pegasus sat down and continued engaging a full-blown conversation with them. Their 'small' table became a crowded one with annoyance emphasizing 'crowded'. Jounouchi, Honda, Yugi, Yami, and Anzu had joined them and carried on about certain things. It felt so surreal. He spent so much of his teen-years detesting their existence and ignoring them at the same time. Though he never truly ignored them did he?

As they continued on, Kaiba ordered drink after drink. If he was going to have to endure this, then he would at least do something to dull the headache forming. When he tuned in to their current discussion, they were talking about the details of Yugi's party. Apparently it was supposed to be a surprise but Yami couldn't hold it in and blurted it out. He never could imagine Yami as someone who was so happy and energetic, always thought that part to be Yugi. Maybe it was. Kaiba frowned. What had really changed about himself?

"So, Yugi" Everyone stopped and turned to Kaiba. This whole time the brunet had been silent. It's when Pegasus also realized he's already had four drinks. Not including the martini he was currently drinking. 'Oh crap did I just say something… out loud. Oh great isn't that just f-fucktastic! I guess it doesn't matter, might as well…' "What do you want for your birthday?"

They all looked at Kaiba and Jounouchi was the first to crack up laughing. Pegasus followed and so did Kaiba. There was something so funny about someone who didn't care about you, asking such a simple direct question. After the noise died down, Yugi smiled brightly. "Thank you Kaiba. Honestly, I don't mind. It's not something I'm expecting, if you and Mokuba can come at all that'd be terrific." He replied.

Yami shook his head and suddenly his watched went off. "Oh man." Jounouchi groaned as his did as well. The group turned off their timers and sighed with a mirrored disappointment.

"Well it was good to see you two again. Kaiba you should join your brother and us some time." Yugi said waving his hand and stood. "We have to get going now seeing as its so late."

"Yeah we were supposed to be gone an hour ago." Anzu smirked as she put her chair back where it rightfully belonged. The others did the same.

Kaiba leaned back and downed a shot of tequila. "Finally they're gone." He mumbled putting the glass back down on the table, leaning forward as he did so.

"Where and when did you get that bottle?" Pegasus asked in disbelief, leaning his elbow on the table and resting his head against his open palm. "You, my friend, have a drinking problem. And what do you mean 'finally they're gone'? That's not a nice thing to say especially since Yugi invited you to spend time with them."

The brunet lifted his head up and with half-open lids shrugged, "Seriously… Do you see me wit' them?" He leaned forward again throwing his arms across the table and buried his face in them.

"What do you mean by that?" He asked but the other was ignoring him… 'Or asleep.' "Hey, what did you mean by that?"

Kaiba groaned and sat back up. "By what..?" He thought back on what was said, which was hard in and of itself but managed to grasp his words. "Well… First off I detest them." He replied. He tapped his finger to his chin before snapping it with his thumb, "And their annoying. Seriously annoying. Hmm, what else?" He mumbled beginning to pour himself another shot.

"I think that's enough he said grabbing the bottle and shaking his head. Kaiba finished off the drink he managed to pour out and sighed. "Well I guess I don't need to drink anymore anyways, now that they're gone. Always so happy wit'… with everything." He yawned.

Pegasus quirked an eyebrow "What do you mean when you say always happy?"

Kaiba stood. "I don't like this." He leaned his outstretched hand against the table to keep from falling.

"What don't you like?" Pegasus asked standing with him.

The older came around and helped him stand. "You trying to interrogate me when I'm quite myself. Pegasus was this your plan all along? Hm? Trying to get me to open up and tell you how seeing them shows me how much I've stayed the same? That they're still maturing and growing and I'm… still the same as I've ever been… It's what you were trying to see wasn't it?"

Pegasus' expression grew concerned. "Come on, it's time to go." He helped the unsteady other walk out of the place and Pegasus trusty chauffeur opened the door and helped put the drunk in the vehicle. Pegasus climbed in and shut the door.

"Where to Master Pegasus?"

"Should I take you home, Seto?" Kaiba seemed to think about it and shook his head. He couldn't go home like this – Mokuba already hated it the liquor room Kaiba had… Oh, had that not been seen yet? Besides in his state he'd probably be drinking there too. "Back to the Hotel."

"Yes sir."

"Are you all right Seto?"

Kaiba sat up and nodded. "No." the brunet sighed and leaned against the other. "Why did you bring me here Pegasus?" He asked. "Why was it so important?"

The older frowned, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get caught up in a conversation with the bartender, I didn't realize and… You have to believe that I didn't know Yugi and them were there." He looked over at the one about to pass out. He was already drifting. "You do believe me right."

Kaiba looked up at him with dazed blues and half-smirked. "Yeah. Even you wouldn't be so foolish as to smite me like that." He yawned again and mumbled some incoherent jumble. "I'm sorry too. This was supposed to be a, uh, grand experience."

"Just tell me one thing, Seto."

"Hm?"

"Did you like the bar?"

Kaiba laughed lightly. "Yes, Pegasus. Yes, I liked the place." A few minutes passed and he felt the other go limp against him. 'Great. How am I going to carry you up to the room?' He bemused.