Title: Canvas

Summary: A post-Duelist Kingdom story centered around Pegasus and his search for a way to bring Cecelia back… And the man he wants help from is the most unlikely of all. Shounen-ai of a very uncommon pairing that someone requested.

Disclaimer: Lily does not own YuGiOh. Lily is not making money off of this.

Warnings: None?

Chapter 5: Curve

"You're giving up your company?"

"Yes. If I can't get the Eye back, it won't matter to me anymore."

Kaiba thought about daring Yuugi to attack as he stood at the ledge, wind whipping through his hair and just daring him to jump. He would've done it, too. "And if I can't find this mysterious someone?"

"You can have the company anyways. Just as long as you try."

"Okay, so let me get this straight. I track down sixteen people for you, and you give me your company?"

"Well, no, there's more to it. I could probably track these people down myself, but I'm sure you can do it more accurately. I only need to find those who returned home the day of the finals or later, otherwise they couldn't have been there to take my Eye. And, I'll need their street address so I can actually find them. But yeah, that's basically it."

"Right. So, address and date of return. Pretty simple. Give me the list." Pegasus did so, and they sat in silence as Kaiba scanned it over. Not one lived in Domino, or at least, he didn't recognize any. Oh, but Kaiba had connections. Yes he did.

The silence stretched awkwardly as Kaiba finished. Pegasus's gaze turned towards the television, and Kaiba suddenly didn't want him to turn it on. It was too noisy, that's why. Anxiously, he tried to come up with something to say. Though he really didn't want to draw the conversation towards his earlier weakness, there was really nothing else he could say, was there?

"Interesting wallpaper, by the way. Nice teddy bears. Very sophisticated."

When Kaiba saw the red spreading on Pegasus's cheeks, he took it for embarrassment and felt a sort of sadistic pleasure at victory, at knowing that he too could toy with Pegasus's emotions, not just the other way around. And then, he realized that Pegasus, now standing up and towering over him, was angry.

Happiness, boredom, defeat, glee. Kaiba couldn't remember seeing anything outside of those emotions on Pegasus's face. Never sadness, not until a few moments ago, and even then, Pegasus tucked it away behind a mask of nonchalance. There was another similarity between the two: they both liked to hide their emotions, though Kaiba replaced his with ice and Pegasus replaced his with… something childish. Like a sun with its rays growing out like spider legs, drawn in yellow crayon. And Kaiba had definitely never seen anger on Pegasus's face. Pegasus was too easygoing to get angry, or so Kaiba had thought.

It was still a victory, then, wasn't it? He was the first to make this man lose his temper.

"Seto Kaiba." The words were spoken slowly, the syllables strung out, and even now, Pegasus looked as if he were fighting to calm himself. "I don't mind that you insult me at every opportunity that you have. But you will never, never insult Cecelia."

"Oh? And who is this Cecelia?"

"Cecelia is… Cecelia was…" Pegasus exhaled deeply. "Well, it's none of your concern. But this is Cecelia," here, Pegasus paused to sweep his arm towards the portrait, "And you were staying in her room. I'll ask you not to show disrespect towards her." Pegasus seemed to have calmed, and was now trying out a strained smile. Following his example, Kaiba relaxed as well. But by now, he was genuinely curious. This was definitely the 'she' Pegasus had been talking about before, the one that Kaiba found himself relating to Mokuba.

"Yeah. Okay. So who was she? Who was she to you?"

There was only silence for a few moments. "She is my love, my life, my soul, my everything. She is, was my wife." Pain shone in the one eye for a few seconds, and Pegasus hastily put the sunglasses back on. "She's dead," he added bluntly.

"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that." As with all condolences issued by Kaiba Seto, this one was spoken with an air of necessity, not genuine regret. But there was regret somewhere in his voice and Pegasus seemed to hear that, if his slight smile was anything to judge by.

'How would I feel if Mokuba died?' Kaiba shuddered. 'Nobody understands how terrible that would be… yet this man…'

"Do you… want to talk about it?"

Pegasus looked up with no little surprise. "Talk about it?" He parroted, disbelief quieting his voice.

"Sure. It might make you feel better."

"And this from you, Kaiba-kun," Pegasus said with a chuckle. He had evidently brushed all hurt and anger aside to be dealt with later. "Let's go have lunch. Unless you still think I'll poison something?"

Kaiba chose to ignore the rather obvious subject change and stood. "I have a strong stomach. I think I'll survive."

Croquet met the two men just out of the room as if he'd been there all along.

"Croquet! Just the man I want to see," Pegasus said, rather cheerfully. "Kaiba-kun and I were just going to have lunch. Do you think you could ask whoever is cooking today to make us something to eat?"

"I already have, Pegasus-sama. Will that be all?"

"Yes. Thank you, Croquet." Pegasus had to marvel at Croquet's thoughtfulness, and made a mental note to give him a raise soon… and scratched the note as he remembered that he wouldn't be able to give him a raise soon. Kaiba stood silently somewhere behind Pegasus, observing with interest. Rather abruptly, Pegasus grabbed Kaiba's hand and began pulling the other man along, regardless of the fact that Kaiba was a good two inches taller.

~~

Kaiba ate quietly and meticulously, as did Pegasus. As a result, there wasn't much of a conversation. Finally, Pegasus decided that he was finished, wiped his mouth daintily, and proceeded to watch Kaiba eat. Feeling the one-eyed stare, even through those ridiculous sunglasses, Kaiba decided that he too was done, and returned the stare. He was at an advantage, of course. He had two eyes, and they weren't covered by cow-print sunglasses.

"Did you want to call your brother, Kaiba-kun?"

"Hmm?" The younger CEO was busily staring at Pegasus. He didn't really want to admit it, but having Pegasus's eye on him was really unnerving, made him feel like he just couldn't slip up and retain any semblance of dignity, and he wanted to do something equally unnerving back.

"Did you want to call your brother? You know, to inform him that I haven't killed you yet?"

"Oh. Oh, right."

"Hopefully, the phone lines aren't out already. I assume you have a cell phone?" Nodding, Kaiba it out. Pegasus left to wait in the television room with one of his favorite Funny Bunny comics. He hadn't really been able to read them since his Eye was stolen, knowing that Cecelia might never be returned to him… But now, he had hope.

And besides, he had so missed Funny Bunny.

To Be Continued…