Yuugi peered through the crowd, trying to find Bakura in the masses of people dressed similarly. He felt that he stood out more than usual in all his black, but he liked it. He smiled up at Kaiba briefly, noting that the other boy hadn't made allowance for the weather in his dressing either. As he turned back to the crowd, pale hair caught his eye.
"Bakura-kun!" he called happily, pouncing on the boy.
Bakura startled slightly before realizing who held him. "Yuugi-kun...?" he blinked in amazement before giving a incredible smile and hugging the boy tightly. "What are you doing here?" he smiled happily, not letting go.
Yuugi pushed Bakura's hat back a bit to kiss him, not caring about the people watching them. "Kaiba-kun had business so we came down here to see if we could find you."
"Kaiba-kun is..." Bakura looked up spotting the other boy. He gave a smile of deep contentment, hugging Yuugi again. He gave a small laugh, noticing the other two boys clothing. "Come on, lets get you both out of the sun," he smiled, tugging Yuugi gently to a small cafe.
Yuugi followed happily, hugging Bakura's arm. Kaiba followed both of them, expression content.
Bakura quietly ordered the group some tea and turned back to his lovers, smiling brightly, reaching out to take their hands. "I can't believe you're both here..." he sighed happily. "It's like a dream I don't want to wake from..."
Yuugi smiled, nuzzling Bakura's hand. "We missed you," he said. "When are you coming home?"
Bakura hesitated, looking down slightly. "I-- I don't know..." he said softly.
"Sonna!" Yuugi exclaimed.
"Tousan asked me to stay..." The pale haired boy looked conflicted. "It's something I've always wished he'd say, but-- I missed you both so terribly.... I don't know what to do," he confessed with a sigh.
"You should come home," Kaiba said, eyes snapping. "No matter what, you need to see other people your own age. What would your life be like spending all your time around an archeological dig with the only person you really care about being busy all the time." His fists clenched.
Bakura blinked, looking up at the boy. "Kaiba-kun..." he said softly, voice slightly concerned.
"No one has the right to separate someone from everything they care about."
Bakura gave a soft smile. "I wouldn't be. I care about Tousan and I love being here and helping him with his work."
"And what about us?" Yuugi asked softly. "You know your father wouldn't let you see us...."
"I'm sure he wouldn't mind friends coming to visit," Bakura smiled assuringly. "And Tousan doesn't notice things even when they're obvious if they don't involve his work somehow."
"So we're just friends?" Yuugi asked, looking down.
The pale haired boy squeezed Yuugi's hand gently. "You're much more then that to me, but Tousan..." he trailed off.
"After the way he practically kidnapped you, I'd say he doesn't think we're just friends," Kaiba commented.
Bakura blinked. "Kidnapped...?"
"He spirits you away with barely time to tell anyone where you're going, or even that you're going at all. And now he doesn't want you to go home. And all this came after he got you from my home. Where he was very uncomfortable."
Bakura stared. "Kaiba-kun, you don't think that Tousan....?" he trailed off, eyes wide.
"I think that you were deliberately taken from us, and I think that you are now being kept from us," Kaiba said.
Bakura looked down, uncomfortable and slightly disturbed, hand tightening around Yuugi's.
Yuugi returned the pressure, still not looking up.
"I can't choose..." Bakura said softly, voice trembling slightly. "I don't want to have to choose between the place and work and father I love and the people I love..."
"Will you let your father make the choice for you?" Kaiba asked.
The pale haired boy didn't look up. "I don't want to be apart from you... but I don't want to give up the chance to have Tousan in my life again!" he exclaimed, upset.
The was an unhappy quiet was broken as the waiter arrived with their drinks. Not looking up, Bakura sipped the cold tea, expression slightly depressed.
"Ah, Ryou, there you--" Bakura's father froze, spotting the two boys at the table with his son. "....are...." he finished in a shocked voice.
The pale haired boy gave a slightly forced smile. "Tousan! Yuugi-kun and Kaiba-kun came..." he trailed off, slightly alarmed at his father's expression.
The blue haired man was shaking slightly, body tense as he looked between the three boys before finally settling on Kaiba. "You can't have him..."
"Tousan....?" Bakura asked in a small concerned voice.
"'Have' him?" Kaiba asked, one brow raised.
"Ryou, come with me," the blue haired man reached out for his son.
"Tousan, what's the matter? Kaiba-kun and Yuugi-kun are my friends!" Bakura protested, looking slightly hurt.
Yuugi bit his lip, looking down again.
"He's old enough to make decisions," Kaiba said, leaning back in his seat. "And considering your neglect of his well-being - leaving him on his own without anyone to even look in on him to see if he's sick or hurt - I thought you had realized that."
"That doesn't mean you can take advantage of him!" Bakura's father exclaimed.
"Tousan!" the pale haired boy exclaimed, upset. "Stop it! Kaiba-kun doesn't take advantage of me! He never has!"
"I don't care how much money you have, you can't use it to buy people!" the blue haired man continued, not even seeming to hear his son's protests.
Bakura's eyes went wide in shock.
"If you think I could buy your son's affections you do not know him," Kaiba said with narrowed eyes. "Good day." He rose, putting an arm around Yuugi as they walked off.
Yuugi looked back, expression begging Bakura to come with them.
The pale haired boy stood, trembling slightly. "Matte yo..." he near whispered, reaching out to the pair.
"Ryou, let them go," his father advised, putting a hand on his son's shoulder. "You can stay here with me, you don't have to go back, he doesn't own you and never will."
Bakura tensed slightly. "Kaiba-kun isn't like that!" he exclaimed, looking at his father with hurt eyes. "I love him, Tousan..." he said, voice trembling slightly with the confession as his father's eyes widened. "And Yuugi-kun! And they love me as well!" he shouted.
The blue haired man stared in utter shock. "Ryou...."
"I'm going home..." the boy said softly before pulling away to follow his lovers.
The pair had paused, hearing the argument. Yuugi now ran to Bakura, hugging him tightly.
Bakura buried his face in Yuugi's hair, trying to hide his tears and he hugged back.
Kaiba put an arm around Bakura, removing his hat and kissing his hair.
The boy leaned against him, pulling Yuugi with him so he was shielded between the two. "Take me home...?" he asked in a small muffed voice, not looking up.
"Whenever you want," Kaiba responded.
"Now?" Bakura almost begged pathetically.
Kaiba turned Bakura's face up and stroked the boy's cheeks. "Now."
Bakura gave a small grateful smile. "Arigatou...."
As Kaiba led them away, Yuugi looked back sadly at Bakura's father.
The man was still staring in utter shock, not having moved.
Bakura bit his lip, determined not too look back and unconsciously moved closer to Kaiba, reaching for Yuugi's hand.
Yuugi held his hand and looked forward again, giving an unconscious squeeze.
Bakura was silent as they boarded Kaiba's jet, looking out the window, eyes saddened as the landscape faded and grew small.
Yuugi leaned against him, hugging his arm.
Bakura gave a small sad smile, shifting to put his arm around the smaller boy as he continued to look out the window. "A year ago I would have stayed without a second thought... I always had dreams he'd ask me to stay... or that when he came back for the week that he would stay and we'd be a family again..." he said softly.
"Gomen," Yuugi said softly.
"It isn't your fault. And it isn't Kaiba-kun's either," the pale haired boy assured. "I just can't help but feel that I've betrayed him somehow... The one time he wanted me and I choose you and Kaiba-kun over him." He gave a small laugh. "I guess it's symbolic, in a way... At first I hadn't even realized that that was the card I had given you until I was looking through my deck for it."
Yuugi still looked upset. "You shouldn't have to choose...."
"I had no other choice," Bakura said softly. "Tousan is here and you and Kaiba-kun were back in Domino. If I could split myself to be both places at once, I would."
Yuugi snuggled against him silently.
There was a long quiet. "27 days...." Bakura sighed softly, his voice almost lost in the hum of the jet.
Yuugi looked at him in question.
Bakura gave a small smile. "I've seen Tousan for 27 days in the past year and most of that was during summer break when I could go down and see him at his work. Before I met you and Kaiba-kun, those were what I lived for...."
Yuugi hugged him tightly, rising to kneel in his seat and kiss the other boy earnestly.
Bakura melted against the kiss, holding the smaller boy closely, trying to keep his eyes from watering again.
After the kiss broke, Yuugi flung his arms around Bakura's neck. "Hontou ni gomen, Bakura-kun... demo... we'll always want you...."
The pale haired boy's eyes overflowed and he hugged the boy tightly. "Yuugi-kun..." he cried softly.
"I was so afraid you'd forget about us... or get caught up in your father's work and never come home."
"I'd never forget about you!" Bakura insisted, voice emotional as he held the boy tighter. "I though of you every night and whenever I was alone. And I missed you both terribly whenever Mikano-san was on his laptop," he smiled slightly.
Yuugi nuzzled against Bakura's neck. "I don't want to miss you," he said softly.
The boy made a small sound, melting against the touch. "You don't have to worry... I won't be leaving again..." he said softly, voice slightly depressed.
"Don't be sad, Bakura-kun. Everything will work out." Yuugi worked his hands into Bakura's shirt, touching him gently
Bakura gave a small shiver at the touch. "Yuugi-kun...." he whispered, relaxing against the touch, eyes closing. "Make me forget...?" he near begged.
Yuugi nodded, pulling Bakura's shirt off. He leaned down to nuzzled the boy's chest, tears in his eyes. "I love you," he murmured softly.
Bakura gave a soft moan, "I love you too, Yuugi-kun," he said softly, reaching down to gently wipe away the tears.
"I don't want you to be unhappy...."
"As long as I'm with you, I won't be," Bakura's smile didn't quiet reach his eyes.
Yuugi hugged him tightly.
"Bakura-kun!" he called happily, pouncing on the boy.
Bakura startled slightly before realizing who held him. "Yuugi-kun...?" he blinked in amazement before giving a incredible smile and hugging the boy tightly. "What are you doing here?" he smiled happily, not letting go.
Yuugi pushed Bakura's hat back a bit to kiss him, not caring about the people watching them. "Kaiba-kun had business so we came down here to see if we could find you."
"Kaiba-kun is..." Bakura looked up spotting the other boy. He gave a smile of deep contentment, hugging Yuugi again. He gave a small laugh, noticing the other two boys clothing. "Come on, lets get you both out of the sun," he smiled, tugging Yuugi gently to a small cafe.
Yuugi followed happily, hugging Bakura's arm. Kaiba followed both of them, expression content.
Bakura quietly ordered the group some tea and turned back to his lovers, smiling brightly, reaching out to take their hands. "I can't believe you're both here..." he sighed happily. "It's like a dream I don't want to wake from..."
Yuugi smiled, nuzzling Bakura's hand. "We missed you," he said. "When are you coming home?"
Bakura hesitated, looking down slightly. "I-- I don't know..." he said softly.
"Sonna!" Yuugi exclaimed.
"Tousan asked me to stay..." The pale haired boy looked conflicted. "It's something I've always wished he'd say, but-- I missed you both so terribly.... I don't know what to do," he confessed with a sigh.
"You should come home," Kaiba said, eyes snapping. "No matter what, you need to see other people your own age. What would your life be like spending all your time around an archeological dig with the only person you really care about being busy all the time." His fists clenched.
Bakura blinked, looking up at the boy. "Kaiba-kun..." he said softly, voice slightly concerned.
"No one has the right to separate someone from everything they care about."
Bakura gave a soft smile. "I wouldn't be. I care about Tousan and I love being here and helping him with his work."
"And what about us?" Yuugi asked softly. "You know your father wouldn't let you see us...."
"I'm sure he wouldn't mind friends coming to visit," Bakura smiled assuringly. "And Tousan doesn't notice things even when they're obvious if they don't involve his work somehow."
"So we're just friends?" Yuugi asked, looking down.
The pale haired boy squeezed Yuugi's hand gently. "You're much more then that to me, but Tousan..." he trailed off.
"After the way he practically kidnapped you, I'd say he doesn't think we're just friends," Kaiba commented.
Bakura blinked. "Kidnapped...?"
"He spirits you away with barely time to tell anyone where you're going, or even that you're going at all. And now he doesn't want you to go home. And all this came after he got you from my home. Where he was very uncomfortable."
Bakura stared. "Kaiba-kun, you don't think that Tousan....?" he trailed off, eyes wide.
"I think that you were deliberately taken from us, and I think that you are now being kept from us," Kaiba said.
Bakura looked down, uncomfortable and slightly disturbed, hand tightening around Yuugi's.
Yuugi returned the pressure, still not looking up.
"I can't choose..." Bakura said softly, voice trembling slightly. "I don't want to have to choose between the place and work and father I love and the people I love..."
"Will you let your father make the choice for you?" Kaiba asked.
The pale haired boy didn't look up. "I don't want to be apart from you... but I don't want to give up the chance to have Tousan in my life again!" he exclaimed, upset.
The was an unhappy quiet was broken as the waiter arrived with their drinks. Not looking up, Bakura sipped the cold tea, expression slightly depressed.
"Ah, Ryou, there you--" Bakura's father froze, spotting the two boys at the table with his son. "....are...." he finished in a shocked voice.
The pale haired boy gave a slightly forced smile. "Tousan! Yuugi-kun and Kaiba-kun came..." he trailed off, slightly alarmed at his father's expression.
The blue haired man was shaking slightly, body tense as he looked between the three boys before finally settling on Kaiba. "You can't have him..."
"Tousan....?" Bakura asked in a small concerned voice.
"'Have' him?" Kaiba asked, one brow raised.
"Ryou, come with me," the blue haired man reached out for his son.
"Tousan, what's the matter? Kaiba-kun and Yuugi-kun are my friends!" Bakura protested, looking slightly hurt.
Yuugi bit his lip, looking down again.
"He's old enough to make decisions," Kaiba said, leaning back in his seat. "And considering your neglect of his well-being - leaving him on his own without anyone to even look in on him to see if he's sick or hurt - I thought you had realized that."
"That doesn't mean you can take advantage of him!" Bakura's father exclaimed.
"Tousan!" the pale haired boy exclaimed, upset. "Stop it! Kaiba-kun doesn't take advantage of me! He never has!"
"I don't care how much money you have, you can't use it to buy people!" the blue haired man continued, not even seeming to hear his son's protests.
Bakura's eyes went wide in shock.
"If you think I could buy your son's affections you do not know him," Kaiba said with narrowed eyes. "Good day." He rose, putting an arm around Yuugi as they walked off.
Yuugi looked back, expression begging Bakura to come with them.
The pale haired boy stood, trembling slightly. "Matte yo..." he near whispered, reaching out to the pair.
"Ryou, let them go," his father advised, putting a hand on his son's shoulder. "You can stay here with me, you don't have to go back, he doesn't own you and never will."
Bakura tensed slightly. "Kaiba-kun isn't like that!" he exclaimed, looking at his father with hurt eyes. "I love him, Tousan..." he said, voice trembling slightly with the confession as his father's eyes widened. "And Yuugi-kun! And they love me as well!" he shouted.
The blue haired man stared in utter shock. "Ryou...."
"I'm going home..." the boy said softly before pulling away to follow his lovers.
The pair had paused, hearing the argument. Yuugi now ran to Bakura, hugging him tightly.
Bakura buried his face in Yuugi's hair, trying to hide his tears and he hugged back.
Kaiba put an arm around Bakura, removing his hat and kissing his hair.
The boy leaned against him, pulling Yuugi with him so he was shielded between the two. "Take me home...?" he asked in a small muffed voice, not looking up.
"Whenever you want," Kaiba responded.
"Now?" Bakura almost begged pathetically.
Kaiba turned Bakura's face up and stroked the boy's cheeks. "Now."
Bakura gave a small grateful smile. "Arigatou...."
As Kaiba led them away, Yuugi looked back sadly at Bakura's father.
The man was still staring in utter shock, not having moved.
Bakura bit his lip, determined not too look back and unconsciously moved closer to Kaiba, reaching for Yuugi's hand.
Yuugi held his hand and looked forward again, giving an unconscious squeeze.
Bakura was silent as they boarded Kaiba's jet, looking out the window, eyes saddened as the landscape faded and grew small.
Yuugi leaned against him, hugging his arm.
Bakura gave a small sad smile, shifting to put his arm around the smaller boy as he continued to look out the window. "A year ago I would have stayed without a second thought... I always had dreams he'd ask me to stay... or that when he came back for the week that he would stay and we'd be a family again..." he said softly.
"Gomen," Yuugi said softly.
"It isn't your fault. And it isn't Kaiba-kun's either," the pale haired boy assured. "I just can't help but feel that I've betrayed him somehow... The one time he wanted me and I choose you and Kaiba-kun over him." He gave a small laugh. "I guess it's symbolic, in a way... At first I hadn't even realized that that was the card I had given you until I was looking through my deck for it."
Yuugi still looked upset. "You shouldn't have to choose...."
"I had no other choice," Bakura said softly. "Tousan is here and you and Kaiba-kun were back in Domino. If I could split myself to be both places at once, I would."
Yuugi snuggled against him silently.
There was a long quiet. "27 days...." Bakura sighed softly, his voice almost lost in the hum of the jet.
Yuugi looked at him in question.
Bakura gave a small smile. "I've seen Tousan for 27 days in the past year and most of that was during summer break when I could go down and see him at his work. Before I met you and Kaiba-kun, those were what I lived for...."
Yuugi hugged him tightly, rising to kneel in his seat and kiss the other boy earnestly.
Bakura melted against the kiss, holding the smaller boy closely, trying to keep his eyes from watering again.
After the kiss broke, Yuugi flung his arms around Bakura's neck. "Hontou ni gomen, Bakura-kun... demo... we'll always want you...."
The pale haired boy's eyes overflowed and he hugged the boy tightly. "Yuugi-kun..." he cried softly.
"I was so afraid you'd forget about us... or get caught up in your father's work and never come home."
"I'd never forget about you!" Bakura insisted, voice emotional as he held the boy tighter. "I though of you every night and whenever I was alone. And I missed you both terribly whenever Mikano-san was on his laptop," he smiled slightly.
Yuugi nuzzled against Bakura's neck. "I don't want to miss you," he said softly.
The boy made a small sound, melting against the touch. "You don't have to worry... I won't be leaving again..." he said softly, voice slightly depressed.
"Don't be sad, Bakura-kun. Everything will work out." Yuugi worked his hands into Bakura's shirt, touching him gently
Bakura gave a small shiver at the touch. "Yuugi-kun...." he whispered, relaxing against the touch, eyes closing. "Make me forget...?" he near begged.
Yuugi nodded, pulling Bakura's shirt off. He leaned down to nuzzled the boy's chest, tears in his eyes. "I love you," he murmured softly.
Bakura gave a soft moan, "I love you too, Yuugi-kun," he said softly, reaching down to gently wipe away the tears.
"I don't want you to be unhappy...."
"As long as I'm with you, I won't be," Bakura's smile didn't quiet reach his eyes.
Yuugi hugged him tightly.