A/N: I know. I'm evil. Blame my research paper, but nope, I won this time –big grin—haha. Ahem… I really should learn how to shut up, huh? Oh well… Is it possible that Seto still cares for Yami? Of course, duh! Hehe… don't mind me, yet again I am blissfully ignorant and not in the right mind. Sorry about that….

Okay, I get it. I'll shut up, sheesh…

Oh yeah, before I forget, more violent and scary (and I mean scaaaaaary) Yami this chappie…

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Chapter 25: Waking Up

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Yami opened his eyes slowly, feeling his head throb in pain. Seriously, why must they always hit him on the head? It was starting to get on his nerves. Groggily, he sat upright and realized that his hands were bound together and he cursed. Of all the situations he hated, he just had to get himself into the worst, most helpless situation.

The agent sighed and closed his eyes, knowing the headache was starting to burden him. At least Mokuba was all right, he wasn't hurt… right?

Hazy crimson eyes narrowed into tiny slits, planning on what to do if anything did happen to the younger Kaiba. Oh yeah, he was going to beat the crap out of everyone he sees, that's for sure. Well… every Nightstalker he sees, in this case.

"You really should rest, you know."

Yami stared at the CEO, smiling upon the other's entry to the living room.

"Why don't you practice what you preach?" he asked back, crimson eyes sparkling with unvoiced mirth.

"I only practice it if somebody does it with me," says the CEO and sits beside Yami, pulls the agent closer and into a breathtaking kiss.

"Now shouldn't you be resting?" Yami asked.

"Come with me?" Seto answered with a smile.

The agent smiled back, his eyes showing off his unvoiced mirth.

"No way, you snore," he teased.

"I do not."

Yami grinned and stuck his tongue out childishly before resting his head on the other's shoulder. Seto smiled and kissed the other on his forehead.

"Not now!" the former pharaoh groaned in frustration. He wasn't in the mood to deal with his memories.

"Bad dream, Yami?"

Crimson eyes narrowed into tiny dangerous slits and glared at the one who entered, not caring if he was as helpless as an immobile person. "Why are you here? Bored that nobody gives a shit with what you say?" Yami taunted back.

The man referred smirked and bent as he grasped the other's chin tightly, forcing Yami's gaze to meet his, "Don't worry, Yami. When I get bored, I'll call for you to entertain me," he answered and pulled the other into a kiss.

Yami could feel his anger boil and he bit the other, smirking triumphantly as the other cry in pain and break the kiss.

"Is that the best you can do, Yami? Bite someone? How truly pathetic," said he.

"I'm sorry, dufus, but if you haven't noticed, I'm bound. Don't fret, say the word and I'll gladly tear your organs apart, you'd want that, wouldn't you?" Yami answered. Before he knew it, a fist has already connected with his jaw.

The former pharaoh chuckled, tasting the blood before spitting them out, "Seriously, Shaqi, you hit like a girl."

Shaqi kept his composure, the agent was here and he was definitely going to enjoy making the other's last days a living miserably hell. With a devilish smirk, he pulled the other's coat towards him, the other's face inches from him, and he whispered, "I would love to watch you whimper and beg to die when I deal with you, remember that, Yami."

And he pushed the agent away, not caring of the other fall and closed the door.

Yami's glare hardened with every second, "We'll see about that, bastard," he said.

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"I'm sorry, Bakura," said Mokuba for the umpteenth time.

"Mokuba, for the last time, don't apologize! That's Yami's job, okay, kiddo?" Bakura answered, getting annoyed with the continuous apologies the younger Kaiba was giving.

"Okay, but are you sure—"

"Yes, Mokuba. Yami's going to be fine now go find your brother, I don't think he's handling the news well," Bakura ordered, cutting the other short. Mokuba, despite being a teenager, grinned at the former Tomb Robber and ran to his brother, who was staring at a distance.

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Seto Kaiba sighed, willing his brain to stop thinking for once, but once again failing. What if Yami was actually getting hurt? What if those Nightstalkers were torturing him? He should be angry, he should even hate the other for betraying him like that but can he help it?

Yami was the one he loved and despite all these pains, he couldn't deny that he didn't care less what happens to the former pharaoh. It would slowly eat him.

'Why must you always get hurt, Yami?' he thought, recounting all those times when the other would willingly give his life for others, even someone who was undeserving of such dedication like him.

"Brother?"

The CEO took a deep breath to calm his thoughts and turned around to meet his brother's gaze, "Yes, Mokuba? Do you need something?" he asked.

'I hate you, Yami'

Seto closed his eyes, why did he even say that anyway?

"S-Seto?" Mokuba tried again.

'I hate you, Yami. Don't… stay away'

The CEO met the other's gaze, "I'm fine, Mokuba, don't worry about me," he answered. And both of them knew it was a lie. But Mokuba played along with it, thinking it was better that way than to confront his brother now. This isn't the perfect time or place for such matters of the heart.

"Okay, brother. I'll be with Bakura, then, okay?"

"Yes, go."

Seto watched as his brother slowly walk towards the former Tomb Robber, his mind going back to those times when Bakura and Yami would argue their heads off during school breaks. That was indeed an amusing and relieving site.

And now, he might not even see his pharaoh anymore.

"Damn it," he cursed. Damn it all, he never was a good liar when it comes to denying his feelings. And once again, he found himself cursing Yami for believing all the words he carelessly said.

He was hurt, all right, but he didn't mean his words. Why didn't Yami see that?

And now, who knows how his pharaoh—the pharaoh was faring.

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"Sir, we already found where the Nightstalkers are hiding."

"Good work, Santiago," said Paul, nodding in affirmation as he met Bakura's knowing gaze.

Raul Santiago nodded, "What are your orders, sir?" he asked.

"Tell the men to prepare, we're going to run assault B tonight," said Paul. Shaqi was going to pay if he even touches Yami's hair. And two people agreed with him.

"Tonight? Paul, we need to save him now! Who knows what Shaqi could be doing to him already!" Bakura protested.

"Yami's a strong man, Bakura, we have to plan everything out first. These nightstalkers have evolved, we have to attack them at night," Paul explained.

"Then I'm going to go there now, I don't care. I'm going to get my partner back!"

Paul shook his head, the stubbornness of the youth.

"Bakura, you will listen to me and listen to me good, you are going to lead the rescue team later after we have perfectly laid out our plan. Am I understood?"

Bakura growled inwardly but nodded reluctantly, who was he to disobey orders anyway?

"Good."

"Paul?"

"Yeah?"

"You already know Seto and Yami broke up, right?"

"What? How?" Paul asked in disbelief. Did Yami really do what he had ordered?

"You gave him an order," Bakura answered before whispering, "I'm not in the position to tell you but I think you made the worst decision to mess with his life. He was already happy with Kaiba, why must you break them apart?"

"If I don't, they would get hurt."

"Love's a double-edged sword, Paul. They get hurt either way," Bakura replied, "I don't care what you say or do, Paul, but I think Kaiba deserves to know the truth. Not lies."

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"You mind if I sit here?"

Seto stared at Bakura and nodded.

"You okay, priest?" the tomb robber asked.

"Yeah."

"We're going to rescue him tonight, if you want to know," Bakura said.

"Thanks for informing me but I don't care about him, sorry."

"And you're an awful liar, priest."

Seto gaped at the white-haired agent in disbelief, was he that obvious?

"Don't ask. I have a partner who lies about his feelings often, that's why I know."

Silence enveloped the two since neither really wanted to say anything. Seto closed his eyes and and sighed softly as the breeze gently hit him, drowning him with air.

"You know, he was lying to you." Bakura said all of a sudden.

"I know, he's good in manipulating people, thanks for the late advice," answered Seto.

"Nope. He never was a good manipulator. I do that but not him."

"Tell that to someone who's interested, Bakura."

"Why would I? It concerns you. He was lying when he said he didn't love you."

"He lied?" Seto asked in disbelief.

"Seriously! You two really think alive. Of course he was! Paul thought it was better if he wasn't too involved with you so you two wouldn't get hurt but Yami wouldn't buy any of it. So Paul made it an order," Bakura cried, "He lied because if you find out, you'll never break up with him."

"Hell no will I break up with him," Seto answered.

"Precisely."

The CEO sighed, knowing his dilemma just got bigger.

"So what do we do know, priest?" Bakura asked, waiting for an answer.

Azure orbs filled with utmost determination and vigor turned to meet his eyes and he knew the answer before the other could even speak but he decided to hear it out.

"We save Yami no matter what." 'I want him back, no one would take him away from me ever'