Hey everyone! Ah- I've been wanting to write this one for a while- and considering all the Gravi fans who've been reading my YGO stories wanted to see me write a Gravi fic ((I did promise, afterall)), this was overdue. Um... lets see... this story is loosely based off the movie with... gosh- I don't remember the actor... either way, it has the same title- "The Game". It's been a long time since I've seen that movie so I'm going to just do what I can with the story line and make it work in context and everything- so it should be alright!

Also, this story starts on Yuki's birthday ((February 23...)) so as everyone is sort of aware of the weather whenever I might mention it... so yeah- early spring and all! Oh- and Yuki and Shuichi aren't together ((as of yet!)) and the only real connections in the story are that Mika and Tohma are married- and Mika, Tatsuha, and Yuki are still siblings. Everyone else will play SIMILAR roles as when they're in the series/manga- just that they'll be introduced according to the story.

Enough rambling! DISCLAIMER: I don't own Gravi nor the movie "The Game"- if anything, both come from much better minds than mine! . They deserve pie for those great stories! [nod nod] Read and Review!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

/..../: Thoughts

The Game: The Subscription

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The tall, slender male stood quietly as he looked out over the balcony of his apartment, cigarette sending a thin trail of smoke into the air. It was just another day to him- a long and hard day which consisted of several hours of typing away mindlessly at his laptop and starring at a white screen. Yuki never really cared about the stories he wrote- but that didn't mean he didn't want his work to be both boring and shallow.

His lips moved gently, flicking away the ashes from the end of his cigarette. The night time was calming; he hadn't been outside all day since he'd awoken. What was it he had to do tomorrow? See his publisher the next afternoon to talk about the deadline...

In a resolute way, he took one last drag before putting out the end of the lit cigarette against the railing of the balcony, then throwing it over the edge into the street.

/What am I supposed to do with Yurika? She's going to get too caught up with..../ Yuki walked back into his plain apartment, going over plot developments when a lone phone on his corner couch started to ring. A small frown crossed his lips, but he walked over to the ringing device and answered.

"Moshi moshi?" Yuki spoke lazily, starring at the single piece of art on his wall- geometric shapes.

"Konnichiwa, aniki!" A happy male's voice chirped from the other line, causing the tall blond to roll his eyes.

"What do you want?"

"Nice to talk to you too, Yuki."

"Hmph..."

"I was wondering if you were busy tonight- I was wondering if you wanted to go out."

"Hmph..."

"Aren't you going to ask how I got to here from Kyoto?"

"No."

"Well- doesn't matter anyway! I wanted to know if you wanted to go out to eat. I'll meet you at that place Mika likes."

"Hmph..."

"I'll take that as a yes. See ya there at 10! Ja!" And the teenager clicked, leaving a silent Yuki staring down at his cordless phone.

/Baka.../ He glanced at the digital clock sitting atop the television- 9:30.

~*~*~

Tatsuha smiled cheekily, watching Yuki's stern expression as he read the card he'd just been handed. "So- what do you think?"

"Hmph..."

"Oh come on! It's your birthday today and it's like you didn't even remember! I think you just didn't wanna remind yourself that you're getting old." A frown greeted the young man. "Besides- I've always wanted to get you something WORTH your birthday. This was a perfect gift!" The blond 23 year old turned the card he'd received around, showing the words to his younger brother. "Membership Subscription to Nine Spiral. Now what's wrong with that? That place worked for me. Why do you think I'm here instead of Kyoto?" Yuki's frown worsened.

"I don't need a subscription to anything, Tatsuha."

"Well- it's up to you if you don't want to go. But here-" He reached inside his jeans pocket and pulled out a silver skeleton key, setting it on the small table. "If you're going to check this out, you'll have to take the key with you. It's an exclusive club and everything." His brother's honey eyes glanced at the key in disinterest. "Oh, c'mon, aniki! All that stress is going to get to you one day!"

"You're starting to worry like Mika and Tohma."

"Mika says it's about time.. . I really don't see what's with her, though." The teenager picked up his half full glass of lemonade, eyeing it suspiciously. "Besides- she wasn't to come up with the brilliant plan for that subscription." He smiled again, taking a drink from the glass cup. Yuki lifted a brow, then immediately ringing started- Tatsuha's cell phone.

The teen quickly pulled it out of a jacket slung over the shoulders of his chair and answered. "Moshi mo- Oh, Mika. Yeah- I'm fine. No. No... no." He was rolling his eyes and looking at the ceiling, bored. "Fine whatever. I'll be there in a few." And he hung up. "Mika wants me back at her place. So..." He took another gulp from his drink and smiled. "I guess you're stuck with the bill." Tatsuha slipped on his leather jacket, a serious look suddenly on his face. "Aniki- I worry about you. I just want you to relax a little more- just look into Nine Spiral. You might really like it." He turned and made his exit, leaving an expressionless Yuki sitting alone.

/Why can't they all just leave me alone?/ He frowned and stood, gathering the skeleton key and card into his pocket. Leaving a few bills on the table, he walked out of the restaurant and back towards his apartment not far away.

~*~*~

Unknown to most people, Yuki Eiri didn't mind walking into a bookstore and virtually ignoring the giggling and squealing of girls flocking to buy any of his books. If anything, he really didn't notice it anymore. On any given day, he'd just walk into the local bookstore and flip through magazines as if he were just another costumer.

The next day, Yuki did just that- everything was turning into its normal day until a conversation between two males nearby caught his attention.

"Yeah- Nine Spiral really changed my life. I was overworked- stressed out- I just couldn't handle it anymore. But once my wife got me a subscription, my life took a 180. I'll never regret it."

"I can relate. I couldn't take my life anymore... it was to the point to where I might have done something like jump out of a building if something didn't change. One of my best friends gave me the subscription and I've never been so happy in my life."

Yuki listened silently as he flipped the page in the National Geographic magazine he held; the male wasn't paying attention to the article on the origins of the snail.

"It's amazing how it starts- it's so energizing!"

"Tell me about it- it just came as a rush and I don't regret ever starting the subscription."

A slow curiosity was taking over him and the blond was soon finding himself near the two males- both with some sort of horror novel in their hands.

"What exactly is this Nine Spiral about?" He asked, both men looking up at the male with sunglasses.

"Why do you want to know- do you have a subscription?" One asked- almost in a tone that looked as if he'd taken offense.

"Yes, I do, actually." The male who had snapped looked embarrassed.

"Have you activated your account at all?" The other man asked, setting his book down back in it's rack of best sellers.

"No."

"Well, it's different for everyone... all of Nine Spiral's subscribers feel different about it at the end- but it's something that'll make you so much freer." The older male smiled and nodded at the tall young man. "I'll tell you this, though- once you've gone through the membership, though- it'll feel as if you want to do it all over again. There are a lot of things I wish I could have done different- but in the end, it's everything I hoped it would be." And with that, both men nodded their good byes, turned, and left.

~*~*~

The blond looked at his watch, somewhat impatiently. His publisher had at least taken the time to call and say she'd be late- but she was even running late for the rescheduled time. His honey orbs glanced around the busy street; the publicist was nowhere to be seen and he'd been waiting for 20 minutes.

/I'll talk to her later./ Yuki frowned, standing and reaching into his coat pocket, leaving a few bills for the 3 drinks he'd had in his wait. When his hand slipped back into his coat pocket, his fingers brushed against something cold and he quickly pulled it out- the key Tatsuha had given him along with the membership card for Nine Spiral.

/This place isn't too far from here.../ He turned and started walking towards his car which was parked in the street. /It's actually on the way home./ The male reached his sleek black car, unlocking it, climbing inside. He shut the door behind him and sat there- starring at the card he'd been given.

Tatsuha's words were floating back to him- "Aniki- I worry about you. I just want you to relax a little more- just look into Nine Spiral. You might really like it."

"As long as Mika doesn't find out I'm taking tips from him..." He muttered, deciding on stopping by the address on the card he'd been given. What was the harm? It wasn't as if he had something to do at the moment.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

No Updates till I get 5!