Satsuki hadn't fussed over her appearance for this long in ages. This should have come as no surprise to her, seeing as how she couldn't even remember the last time she'd had a real date. Not that she considered the trip to Bazaarcade a real date either. But even her more casual encounters always seemed to come about so serendipitously that she rarely had time to consider things like what color top to wear or whether she should put her hair up or leave it down.

Eventually she settled on a neutral palette — a beige sweater tucked into a dark plaid skirt, finished with opaque tights and a few more layers to keep her warm on the walk. Miho had begged to let her jazz up the outfit with brighter colors and flashy accessories (even offering one of her own bouncy hair bows), but Satsuki managed to talk her down to just a simple scarlet pashmina scarf.

Miho was even giddier than normal as she worked her magic on Satsuki's hair and makeup. Satsuki had agonized for a while over whether or not to even invite Miho along. But, seeing as Yugi would likely be showing up with his three musketeers in tow, Satsuki figured Miho would at the very least serve as an excellent wingwoman.

Unfortunately, this meant Satsuki had been forced to lie to Miho about her true motives in arranging the lopsided 'date.' She tried to be at least half-truthful — about how she'd met Yugi at Jasmine's, and even that he was under the impression Satsuki was unemployed.

"I didn't want him to get the wrong idea," she explained, wincing as Miho tugged on a knot in the back of her hair, "or worry I might try to hijack his work." The irony of her words tasted as sour as a rotten lemon.

"Ohh," Miho said. "I guess that makes sense."

Her ambivalent tone was only slightly concerning, but Satsuki didn't have time to press the issue further before Miho jabbed another bobby pin into her scalp, securing the end of a complex braid at the nape of her neck.

Miho stepped back with a huff. "There. That should hold all night."

Satsuki swiveled in her chair to get a peek at herself in her friend's vanity. She was pleasantly surprised with Miho's work: the makeup was subtle and classy, the hairstyle charming but practical — all words one wouldn't normally associate with Miho.

Satsuki stood and thanked her friend with a quick hug. After donning their coats and bags, they dipped out of Miho's apartment, emerging onto the rainwashed streets of Domino. They shared an umbrella and dodged puddles and storm drains as they trekked downtown, with Miho grilling Satsuki the whole time.

"So do you like him?" Miho prodded, her voice venturing dangerously close to a sing-songy middle school tone.

"I don't know," Satsuki replied. "I mean, he's cool. But we've only hung out, like, one time."

"Well then tonight will make two times! Maybe you'll know after that."

Satsuki laughed. "Maybe."

Soon, they reached the block where Bazaarcade was located. It was easy to spot, sticking out like a sore thumb against the darkened boutiques and storefronts surrounding it. The owner had converted an old brick warehouse into a trendy social space, spread out over two floors. Trilling electronic sounds, twangy music, and raucous laughter poured out of its main entrance — a wide-open garage door trimmed in rainbow neon lights. Above, a covered balcony ran along the front of the building, with a bar on one end and standing tables scattered throughout where people huddled in smaller groups.

Satsuki and Miho ducked inside, handing their umbrellas and coats to the hostess, who tagged them and took them away. Satsuki grinned as she scanned the interior of the building, its tacky checkered floor a maze of retro arcade games and other coin-operated devices: toy cranes, pinball machines, and an entire wall dedicated just to skee ball. She saw no sign of Yugi and his companions amongst the sea of faces and flashing lights, so she swept her gaze over to the primary bar, nestled in the front-right corner of the first floor and already packed full with patrons of all different ages.

Satsuki was about to break away and save a spot in line when she felt a hand on her shoulder — she jumped and spun to face her mark, his violet eyes glowing almost brighter than the neon lights surrounding him.

"Hey!" Yugi said, his hand still resting lightly on her shoulder.

Satsuki stood frozen a moment, cheeks pinching up with an unbidden smile. "Hi," she breathed. "You made it."

"Of course. Wouldn't miss it."

Her smile widened, until she felt Miho looming beside her. Yugi, too, was soon joined by his friends; their presence caused him to drop his hand back to his side.

Satsuki gestured beside her. "This is my friend, Miho," she said. "Miho; Yugi."

"Hi!" Miho chirped, extending her hand.

"Nice to meet you." He shook Miho's hand, then took a moment to introduce his friends to her — Jounouchi first, followed by Otogi, and lastly Honda (Satsuki couldn't help but notice how his cheeks reddened as he shook Miho's hand).

"Thanks so much for coming, everyone," Satsuki said once the pleasantries had been exchanged. "I was just about to grab a drink, what can I get for you guys?"

Just then, Honda stepped forward, jerking his thumb over his shoulder. "No, no — let me get the first round," he said.

"I'll go too!" Miho volunteered. "Your usual, Satsu?"

Satsuki grinned and nodded, watching as Miho disappeared with Honda into the crowd around the bar. She then narrowed her focus to Yugi. "Well … What first?" she asked, gesturing to the expanse of games behind her.

He gave a mild shrug. "Lead the way."

They started their tour in the retro section, tapping away at Pac-Man and Space Invaders before moving on to some of the more contemporary fighting games deeper in. By then, Miho and Honda had arrived with the first round of drinks, just in time for Honda to get paired against Jounouchi in a round of Mortal Kombat. Satsuki watched in awe as Jou wiped the floor with Honda, who had to grapple his friend's neck into a playful chokehold to get him to stop boasting over his win.

Honda paid him back at the shooting game they moved to next — Jou seemed to miss just about every other shot he took. "Ehh, this gun is busted," he mumbled, much to Satsuki's and Yugi's amusement. On the next round, Honda invited Miho to shoot for him; he even squared himself behind her to steady her aim. Miho squealed with a mixture of disgust and delight as she blew away the zombies with deadly precision.

At the racing games, it was Otogi's time to shine. He took first place with ease, again at the expense of Jounouchi's pride, who just barely edged out Miho for fifth. Grumbling about his bad luck with the machines, he stole away to pick up the next round of drinks.

They then moved onto the dancing games. Yugi tried to make excuses not to join, but Satsuki guilted him into it. Together, they stepped clumsily to the beat. Satsuki stole a glance at him mid-song, seeing a look of pure panic on his face; she doubled over laughing and almost tripped into him.

When they hopped down three songs later, he was blushing furiously. "I'll go get the next round," he muttered through a sheepish smile.

"I'll come too," Satsuki offered.

She thought she saw the red in his cheeks deepen as he turned and led the way back through the maze of games. When they arrived at the bar, however, they found the line had wrapped itself all the way down the wall of skee ball machines.

"Come on, let's check upstairs," Satsuki said, taking his hand. He made a comical little peep as she dragged him toward the stairs, where they climbed up to the smaller, quieter second floor. Here there were a collection of more 'adult' games — billiards, a couple of ping pong tables, a karaoke machine — plus a small concession area serving pizza and soft pretzels and other standard arcade fare.

Satsuki broke away and squeezed through the crowd out to the balcony, where she hopped into the much-shorter-but-still-pretty-long line for the outdoor bar. The soaking autumn rain thickened the air with a humid chill; Satsuki hugged her arms — covered only in a thin sweater now — and rubbed them to keep herself warm.

"Here."

She turned toward Yugi's voice, only to see he had removed his fleece jacket and was holding it out to her. She simply stared at it for a moment, until he extended it further.

"Just till we get back inside."

She took it, and it was her turn to blush as she draped it around her shoulders. It was warm, like flannel sheets in the dead of winter. "Thanks."

He slid his hands into his pockets. "Don't mention it."

A silence passed between them as the line slowly inched forward.

"So…" Yugi finally said. "Miho and Honda seem to be hitting it off, don't they?"

"Yeah," Satsuki replied, reaching up to tuck an errant strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm not surprised. She always goes for the tall, dark, and handsome type."

He laughed nervously at this, and the unintended undertone of her words hit her like a ton of bricks. "What about you?" she diverted. "What type of person do you usually go for?"

Another blush of the cheeks, another anxious chuckle. "Oh, I don't … I don't really have a type," he said. "At least, I don't think I do. I haven't really dated anyone in a while, so — uh — I guess it's hard to say."

Satsuki felt a bit guilty watching him squirm — she had wanted to keep the conversation light and flirty, but it hadn't been her intention to make him uncomfortable. "Well, that's okay," she said. "You've got a good group of friends. That's all that matters. When the right person comes along, you'll know it."

"Yeah. Well put."

A moment later, they reached the front of the line; Satsuki ordered the round and retrieved her wallet, only for Yugi to step in and hand his card over before she could pay. She thanked him, took up a few of the drinks, and followed him back inside. They were halfway to the stairs when they ran into the rest of the group making their way to the ping pong tables.

As Satsuki distributed the drinks, she realized she still had Yugi's jacket draped around her shoulders. She tried desperately to remove it without anyone noticing, but Miho's keen eyes flickered like a cat about to pounce. After Satsuki stealthily handed the jacket back to him, Miho took her by the shoulders and pulled her around the other side of the ping pong table.

"So, do you know yet?" Miho whispered.

If her voice were to go any higher, Satsuki thought only dogs would be able to hear it. "I dunno what you're talking about," she muttered back, though her mouth was tight with a revealing smile. Miho giggled and grabbed a paddle from a basket against the wall.

Soon, they were knee deep in a heated ping pong tournament. Satsuki advanced through Otogi, Honda, and Miho before finally losing to Jounouchi, who went on to barely edge out a victory over Yugi. The two of them had bet food as their ante, so as runner up, Yugi was forced to buy everyone snacks from the concession stand. The six of them crowded into a small booth against the wall, talking, joking, laughing, and stuffing their faces with junk food and candy and yet more alcohol.

Now a full three beers deep, Satsuki's head was beginning to feel fuzzy. When the conversation moved to employment again, it accidentally slipped out that Miho worked for KaibaCorp. They managed to salvage Satsuki's cover through some backtracking, but the tone of the conversation had already taken a noticeably chilly shift at the mention of the rival gaming company.

"God, I hate Seto Kaiba," Jounouchi muttered, his mouth brimming with pizza. "I swear he'd kiss his own ass if he could bend over far enough."

"Oh, he's not that bad," Miho protested. "I mean, you have to respect his vision. He's revolutionized the gaming industry more than any other person I can think of." Nobody at the table seemed to agree with her. "Besides … he's pretty frickin hot. Right, Satsu?"

Satsuki snapped her bleary eyes to Miho, wondering for a moment if her friend had somehow gained psychic powers. But Miho, too, looked tipsy and bemused, a crooked grin stretched across her reddened cheeks. "Ah — he's … not really my cup of tea," Satsuki replied, flashing a hazy look at Yugi.

Miho flapped a hand dismissively, taking another bite of her soft pretzel. "Well, I guess there's no accounting for taste."

"Oh, you're one to talk!" Satsuki teased, grateful when Miho's cackling laughter seemed to diffuse the tension at the table.

They continued munching and passing around snacks, and soon Miho moved on to ask Yugi and his friends more about the RPG they were working on. (Yugi informed the group that he had fixed the bug in Metjen's code so he no longer went homicidal by accident.) This, combined with the previous mention of Seto Kaiba, forced Satsuki to remember the purpose of her trip to the arcade in the first place. Her heart and smile falling, she cleared her throat and waited for an opening in the conversation to insert herself.

"Their tech is super impressive," she said to Miho, stealing one of her french fries. "Is it really just you four working on it?"

Yugi exchanged a nervous look with Jounouchi, who sat across the booth from him. "Yep. Just us four. And a whole lot of forum posts."

"Sometimes though, it feels like there are two Yugis working on it," Jou added, winking at his friend. "He does double the work in half the time."

Yugi flushed. "Jou is exaggerating," he sputtered, to the tune of awkward laughter from his friends. In the silence that followed, he tipped his beer back and finished the last quarter of it in one swig. Placing the bottle loudly on the table, he said, "Why don't we head back downstairs? I bet the line for air hockey has gone down by now."

The group came to a unified consensus and stood, discarding their trash before migrating back down the stairs. Again, Miho and Honda broke off to buy another round; Satsuki was the only one to decline, her buzz already on the downturn after the dinner conversation. Her slightly more sober disposition led to an easy victory in the air hockey tournament, though even in his tipsy state, Yugi gave her a run for her money with a narrow seven-to-five final score margin.

Playfully stewing in his second runner up title of the night, Yugi released a deep sigh and checked his watch. "Damn. It's already half past one. I should probably get going."

Much of the group protested, including Miho, who was currently leaning against the wall with her head on Honda's shoulder. Satsuki, too, felt a twinge of panic behind her heart. As fun as the evening had been, it had unfortunately brought her no closer to digging up the type of dirt her boss was looking for. As Yugi started to bid goodbye to his friends, she suddenly felt the heavy realization of what she had to do.

"Yeah, I really should be getting back, too," she said, soaking her words in wistfulness.

Miho jolted upright. "Don't go yet, Satsu!" she slurred. "We're just getting started!"

"For your sake, I hope not," Satsuki laughed. "Are you okay to get home by yourself?"

Miho huffed and crossed her arms incredulously. "Of course I am!"

"Good. Text me later, okay?"

Miho flashed a quick thumbs up, then returned to leaning against Honda, who looked at Satsuki and gave a gallant nod as though he were a knight assigned to escort a noble lady. Her conscience lightened, Satsuki said her goodbyes to the three musketeers. When she came to Yugi, she found him looking somewhat pensive.

"Hey, you live uptown, don't you?" he said in a low voice, turning away from the group to start back toward the coat check.

"Mhm. Why do you ask?" She tried her best to sound innocent.

"Well, I'm pretty close by there," he went on, rubbing his arm timidly. "I could walk you … if you want. You know. Just to make sure you get home alright."

Again, she pretended to resist — which was a tough ask when both her brain and her heart were telling her to do the opposite. Thankfully, Yugi persisted. After they'd gathered their coats and umbrellas, they dipped out into the deluge and started the hike uptown, shoulder to shoulder.

For the first few blocks, they kept the conversation light — recounting the evening's victories, defeats, and everything in between. But as they waited at a stoplight for the crossing signal, a silence settled thickly between them. Satsuki looked down and watched the rain scattering her reflection in a puddle just off the curb.

"So …" she said slowly. "Sounds like you guys have some history with Seto Kaiba."

Yugi turned to face her, a slight glaze drawn over his eyes. "Heh … I guess you could say that."

She waited for him to continue, but no words found him. "I hear you two used to be bitter rivals. At least that's what the tabloids always said."

He chuckled, falling into step as the crossing light finally flashed. "It wasn't as gruesome as everyone made it out to be. Both of us just had a very strong sense of pride in the game. But outside of tournaments, we actually got along great."

Satsuki felt a lurch in her stomach. "I didn't know you guys knew each other personally."

"Oh yeah, he and I go way back," he said, his tone matching the cloudy thickness of his inebriation again. "Hard to believe we're almost the same age, huh? Him being the boy genius and all."

Satsuki forced another laugh, even though her mind was running at mach speed. "Did you ever consider working for KaibaCorp after you graduated?"

Yugi shrugged, his umbrella tilting and very nearly dousing Satsuki in the backsplash. "Eh, it crossed my mind. But the only times he ever reached out, it was always about Duel Monsters. Like I said — pride." He heaved a big sigh and slipped his free hand into his jacket pocket. "Besides, I don't really think he would have understood our vision with the RPG. KaibaCorp makes great tech, no doubt about it. But Kaiba's heart isn't really in the creative process. He designs games the same way he plays them — to win. And that's fine. But it's not about winning with this project. It's about the journey. You know?"

Satsuki found herself nodding reflexively, her mind drifting back to her previous encounters with the president. It was true, he'd made a name for himself with his ruthless business acumen and unyielding perfectionism. But when they'd spoken at length about Aura and the future of KaibaCorp, Satsuki thought she'd glimpsed something more than just cold ambition behind his eyes. Had she been blinded by her own idealism, seeing only what she wanted to see?

"Maybe one day he and I will reconnect," Yugi went on, unprompted. "But for now, I think it's good for us to be doing our own thing. Healthy, even."

It sounded like he was trying to convince himself, and Satsuki had to wonder if perhaps he and Seto had once been even closer than his words let on. The thought caused a sudden doubt to flood her mind, to think she might have allowed herself to be unknowingly swept into some sour grudge match between estranged friends. But at the same time, the way Yugi spoke was not hateful or disparaging. On the contrary — his voice had a strong conviction to it, as if he really were betting it all that he'd someday find common ground with his old rival.

Satsuki had retreated so far into her own mind that she almost missed the doorway to her apartment. She drew to a sharp stop, causing Yugi to stumble a bit as he swiveled back around to face her.

"This is me," she said, gripping tighter to the handle of her umbrella.

He cast a sidelong glance to her apartment building. "Oh. Right."

She looked at him — at the way the sheen of rain lingered on his skin and turned the kinks of his blonde fringe into wavy curls. After a moment, he met her eyes.

"Well, I guess I'll see you around then."

He started to turn, and suddenly Satsuki felt as if she were caught in a riptide. "Yugi—" He stopped again, and a smile spread on her face to see he really did almost trip and fall this time. "Do you want to come up?" Her words were nearly drowned in the surge of water overhead. "I could make some tea. Warm us up a bit."

He smiled. "Sure. I'd like that."

Satsuki whirled around to hide her burning cheeks. "Mind the stairs," she muttered, fumbling with her keys a moment before unlocking the breezeway and leading the way up the staircase. When they reached the sixth floor, she eased open the door to her cozy studio apartment, stopping to shrug out of her coat and hang it on the rack. She took a moment to make sure her KaibaCorp badge was concealed inside the front flap of her backpack, then gathered Yugi's coat and hung it up beside her own. After slipping out of her wet shoes, she swept forward and flipped on the closest lamp, washing the space in muted light.

Her apartment wasn't much to speak of — four grey walls containing a bed, a small kitchenette, and an even smaller living space tucked between the two. A large window stretched across the wall directly opposite the door; rain drops streaked down the glass, painting molten brushstrokes on her bed.

She pointed out the landmarks and amenities to Yugi before heading over to the kitchenette to fill her kettle with water. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him wandering toward the window. He slid his hands deep into his pockets and gazed out over Domino's skyline, which sloped gently down toward the sea in the distance.

After putting the kettle on and preparing two teacups, she meandered over to stand beside him. "Suddenly all those stairs don't seem so bad, huh?"

He smiled and turned back to her. Even drenched in melting half-light, his eyes had a distinctly dreamy glow to them. "Yeah," he said. "Really keeps things in perspective."

After a moment, his gaze fell away from her, but not completely — just slightly to the right, circling a bit as if he were outlining the curve of her ear. It made her reach up to tuck her hair behind it reflexively; Miho's braid had fallen out after all. She watched as his eyes continued to sink, settling for a moment on her lips before tracing the snug line of her sweater over her throat and shoulder.

She tried to find a reason to look away — to put her mind back in control of her body. But even her thoughts were swept up in the moment, urging her not to fight it. After all, wasn't this what Seto had meant by 'getting closer?'

Yugi took a deep breath, and it pulled on her like a rushing undertow again — wading, floating, falling, until lips nearly brushed lips. But a shrill sound froze her to stillness, causing her to pull back with a start.

The kettle. She blinked, her vision running like spilled ink in the grainy light. Yugi, too, looked like he'd just seen a ghost, eyes wide and mouth agape. When the whistle grew louder, Satsuki spun and rushed back into the kitchen, slamming the burner off with a huff.

At the sound of footsteps drawing near, she straightened up and sniffed loudly. "I'm sorry," she sighed. But a sudden weight on her shoulder caused her to look up, and this time, it was as if the entire ocean had washed down around her.

Bright eyes had turned dark and misty — a shoreline lost in thick fog. His touch was heavier too, like he was carrying the weight of the world in his palms. He reached up to cradle her cheek, slipped his fingers deeper into the root of her tangled braid and curled his fingers tight. And he stared. Hard. Brow set low, jaw clenched tight, eyes flicking back and forth as if he were searching for something — an answer to some intangible question she hadn't even heard him ask.

Then, he kissed her.

The rush of it nearly overwhelmed her at first, but when their lips parted for a fleeting moment, she came surging back into him with renewed vigor. She slipped one arm around his middle, the other behind his neck, holding on for dear life as a wild current spun her around. Her momentum came to a halt when she found herself first pinned against, then lifted onto the kitchen countertop behind her.

One by one, damp layers were shed, freeing new planes of skin to explore — lips crashing together, drawing apart, hands clutching and releasing, fingers dragging along rain-slicked skin. Her body felt like a pot threatening to boil over. She knew she could stop it if she wanted — turn the heat to a low simmer or cut it off completely. But something held her back. That little voice in her head, whispering 'closer, closer, closer.'

She thought at first it was Seto — his deep, terse tenor, steady like the beat of the rain at her window. But it wasn't. It was her voice. Muted and resonant, filling her head as if she were speaking the word aloud: 'Closer …'

Satsuki obeyed, seeking more skin to press herself against. Soon, all that was left between them was a thin set of underclothes, and even this seemed far too much. But when she reached up to pull him closer, she felt a sting of cold in her middle; she looked down to see the edge of his Puzzle jutting against her abdomen. Perturbed, she reached up and took hold of it, only to stop when a hand snapped out to cover hers. The firmness of his touch startled her. She waited, breathless, until he grasped the chain himself, lifting it over his head and lowering it to the countertop with a dull thud.

When he looked back at her, his eyes had darkened further — as if he'd peeled back a piece of himself along with the heavy pendant. But all the troubling thoughts melted away when his lips found hers again. He linked his arms around her waist and lifted her from the counter, carrying her back to her bed. There, he laid her gently atop the sheets, lingering over her like a cresting wave.

Satsuki's eyes fell closed, somewhere between the swift removal of their undergarments and the raining of kisses all across her bare skin. She was ready, waiting, wanting … but it wasn't until he turned onto his back and eased her into his lap that she finally took matters into her own hands, completing their union with a sonorous inward breath.

Satsuki thought the sensations might inundate her again, but this time she wasn't alone. They clung together, at first simply passengers of their own pleasure, but soon becoming masters of it. What surprised her was not how quickly she matched his pace, but that it seemed as though she'd known it all along.

He, too, was a generous lover. His touch was gentle but sure, his gestures never self-serving. It was so different than anything she'd ever experienced — so new and yet so innate, so strange and yet so right. This was not simply sex, she decided. This was truly making, creating, divining love.

For this reason, it came as no surprise when the torrent of ecstasy building within her suddenly overflowed its banks. She called out her keen gratitude, her back arched and head tipped up to the ceiling. He surged upright to join her, pressing hot kisses into her throat until she fell down from her euphoric high. With stars still bursting before her eyes, Satsuki felt herself being turned over again, her head cradled in a delicate grasp until the feathers of her pillow surrounded her.

He pressed his lips against her ear now, and she threaded her fingers into his hair to listen as he heralded his impending release: starting first as eager breaths, then slowly turning deep and vocal, until Satsuki thought her name had left his tongue. But as she listened closer, she heard it — whispered like a question, a plea, a prayer: "Sati … Sati …"

A mistake, surely. A syllable uttered wrong, muted by the thick blanket of intoxication.

But no. Nothing about this encounter had been wrong. It had all been so deliberate — so true: the way their bodies fit together, the way their breaths swelled and broke in harmony, the way they shaped one another in the tides of their pleasure.

When he called out again, Satsuki felt as if her soul had raced across the plains of another world to answer him.