Disclaimer: nope, same ol', same ol'! not Nana-chan's! Ya-kun's! Or mine!
none of it! ^_^
Warnings: shounen-ai... more or less... and watch for mild language, too
Nanashi: another professional way of doing things! Yay, guys! *applauds*
Yasuo: *bows*
Nanaki: *blushes, and bows*
Nanashi: .... my hamster died...
Nanaki: what!? when!?
Yasuo: you had a hamster?
Nanashi: *nods sadly* I'll miss him... *sniffles*
Nanaki: awwwwww, there there, Nana-chan! *huggles Nana-chan*
Yasuo: ........ *rolls his eyes* ... girls...
Nanashi & Nanaki: *glare at Yasuo*
Yasuo: ........ *anime sweatdrops, and grins innocently* I feel your pain...?
Nanashi: *nods* you better...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kaiba quickly whipped his head around, eyes widening, spotting Tristan.
His eyebrow was raised, a plastic bag of groceries slung over his shoulder, and his thumb was hooked in the beltloop of his jeans. And the brunette was watching Bakura and Malik, looking a little confused.
Malik then pointed at the feline-ish CEO, "hey, what happened, exactly?" he asked.
Tristan blinked, as he walked over, "what?"
Kaiba started to struggle. Then scowled and swiped at Malik's hand.
"ACK!" Malik yelped, as he whipped his hand away from the moody kitten. "Geez, what's his problem?"
Tristan tossed Malik a bag of lentils, then turned to Bakura, his hand out to take back Akai. "He's a little tempermental..." he answered.
Bakura shrugged, handing the kitten back.
"So what happened?" Malik asked, again.
Tristan blinked, as he held Akai, "what?"
"What happened to him?"
Kaiba shifted uncomfortably.
"To the cat?"
"Yeah."
Tristan anime sweatdropped, "uh, not much...?"
Bakura rolled his eyes. "He means what made him like that," he informed the taller teenager. Malik nodded, in confirmation.
Tristan pursed his lips, "say what?"
"What made him like that?"
"What made who like what?"
"Him... Kaiba," Bakura responded, pointing at the kitten. Tristan's eyebrow was again raised, then he looked down at the kitten, even more confused.
Kaiba's heart nearly stopped. He looked up at Tristan, instantly feeling like an idiot, all over again. And no amount of comfort from Tristan could possibly fix it. That stare. The CEO couldn't stand it.
He struggled, getting out of the brunette's arms; once on the ground, he just ran not even bothering to gather his bearings after the long drop. He just ran. Didn't matter to where. Kaiba was just certain he didn't want to deal with Tristan's stares, and questions.
"Akai!"
Kaiba ignored him. This wasn't him. He couldn't stay this way. Not anymore. Seto Kaiba wasn't dependent. Seto Kaiba was cold, heartless, strong. Not weak and in need of someone to care for him. He wasn't like that!
He could never be like that.
~~~***~~~
"Him... Kaiba," Malik had said.
Tristan's eyes widened, in astonishment. Then he looked down at the kitten. Those huge blue eyes staring up at him. Almost looking ashamed.
Seto Kaiba?
It all actually made sense. There was always this sense of familarity Tristan had when watching the kitten. The defiance, the need to prove his independence. The annoyance when he was told what to do. Just the intensity the kitten had was enough for Tristan to notice that the kitten was actually very familiar to the brunette.
Then Kaiba, or Akai, started struggling, breaking out of Tristan's hold. Even after getting a little shaken from his jump, Akai still ran.
"Akai!"
Tristan stared after the kitten, watching him run. His heart went out to him. Poor little guy. A part of him wanted to run after the kitten, console him, comfort him. Just be there for him.
But another part of him was telling him to stay put. If that kitten was Seto Kaiba, he had pride. A lot of it. And pity was the last thing a prideful person could ever want.
Bakura and Malik were staring, too.
"What got into him?" Malik asked.
Bakura scowled at the Egyptian. "Do you know the meaning of the word 'subtle'?" he asked, dryly.
"Yes... 'Subtle means delicate, slight; not noticeable; difficult to define, put into words,'" Malik retorted, calmly.
Bakura rolled his eyes.
Tristan shook his head, ignoring the pair, as he started for home. He had things to drop off. Then he had a kitten to find.
~~~***~~~
Kaiba sighed, as he wandered the streets. Having no destination was getting on his nerves.
Going home was out of the question. And Tristan's obviously wasn't an option after running from him.
The kitten finally just gave up on walking, and sat down. His tail curling neatly around him, as he glanced up the street. Then down the street. His ears drooped slightly, as he let his head fall forward, glumly.
Another sigh was released. Then Kaiba frowned at himself.
"You're being pathetic..." he told himself, annoyed. "It's not like I could've stayed... things wouldn't have been the same if I stayed with Tristan, and he knew who I was."
Kaiba tilted his head, as he thought about it.
Would Tristan have treated him differently if he knew he was Seto Kaiba?
A very small part of him was saying "no". But that part was being told to shut up by a larger portion of Kaiba's common sense. As well as his pessimism.
Kaiba stood up, lowering his head, and started to pace back and forth, as he thought. Go back, or keep walking. Back, or stay? He sat down again, his tail once again curling around him. Offering a bit of comfort.
"... Not the way Tristan can, though..." Kaiba thought, staring at his tail. Then he anime sweatdropped, and shook his head. "Get over it... nothing would've happened!" he said to himself, bitterly.
If anything would have happened, it would have been REALLY wrong, both morally and physically. A human and a kitten.
Kaiba shook his head again. Then he sighed, faintly. Would he stay like this? That was the question.
Maybe he should have stuck around. Bakura and Malik might have been able to offer some assistance...
... But the way Tristan looked at him. It kind of hurt Kaiba. Just being looked at from such expressionless eyes. The gold-grey eyes that usually held warmth, humor, and compassion even, were empty.
Maybe confusion, but that was it.
Kaiba just had to get out of there, away from that stare.
But even then, he was hurting. It was small pained feeling in his chest. His heart felt hollow, almost. He started cursing himself for running away. He liked Tristan. He liked being with him. He liked the physical contact, he enjoyed the entire ordeal.
He was positive that if someone else had found him and took him in, Kaiba wouldn't have been as happy as he was with Tristan.
"Hello there, kitty..."
Kaiba looked up at the person speaking. Then his eyes widened. It was that same damn kid! The CEO-turned-kitten jumped back to his feet, spinning and landing on all four paws, his back arching, as he glared viciously at the kid.
"Get the hell away from me!" he snarled.
"Such language coming from a kitten..."
Kaiba's eyes widened, again. "You... understand me..?"
"Well, I am the one who changed you."
"... Bastard...!"
".... You're a foul-mouthed little thing, ain't you?"
"Change me back! I just wanna forget this entire thing happened!"
"You've only been a neko for two days..."
"Two hell-filled days!"
The kid smirked, as he knelt down in front of Kaiba, and patted his head. "You know, as well as I do, that 'hell-filled' is definitely not the word you were looking for..." he said, smugly.
Kaiba jerked back, still glaring at him. "Where do you get off thinking you understand me?" he demanded, annoyed.
"Oh, c' mon now, kitty... you liked the concept of relaxing, just taking it easy... have you worried about anything at all while in this state?"
Kaiba frowned, as he looked away. Alright, the kid had a point there. He didn't worry about anything. But now that Kaiba thought about it, this whole thing was making him shirk his responsibilties. Taking care of his brother was his only priority. His corporation being their main income.
Kaiba worked for his brother.
"Kitty?"
Kaiba looked up at the kid, deapan. "Change me back..." he said, quietly.
"Mmmm... why?"
"... I can't ignore my responsibilties... Mokuba is my responsibility... he's all I have... I worked hard to get where I am, and I won't give it up for a few days of relaxing."
The kid stroked his chin, with a wry smile. "Would you give it up for Tristan, though...? That's the thing I want you to think about..."
Kaiba frowned, as he dropped his head, his ears drooping sadly.
"That loneliness of yours, even when I first saw you, you looked like a lonely sad little boy, desperate for a friend..."
"... Shut up."
The kid chuckled, ruefully. "You made acquaintances like this, kitty..." he said, lightly. "You don't consider them your friends, but you did get a little closer to them like this... all because you had a different form, you could act the way you wanted... you opened up because you were different physically, so you allowed yourself to change emotionally."
"Ooh, that was very deep..." Kaiba said, sarcastically. "Change me back!"
The kid sighed, as he stood up, taking a stick from his pocket, "alright then." He smirked, faintly, "you'll be your old self again... Tristan won't be able hold you anymore."
"... Can I ask you a question?"
"Yes."
"Can you tell me when I gave off the indication that I cared?"
The kid anime sweatdropped, then smiled. "You look so sad when I bring up Tristan's name," he answered.
"... Go to hell," Kaiba hissed, looking away.
"Alas... no more nights in his arms, no more just hearing his voice, no more of his comforting... no more leering at his body..."
Kaiba's face reddened at the last one, so he glared viciously at the kid. "Change me back, now... and stay right where you are, so I can kill you!"
"Hey, I struck a nerve..."
"Change me back."
The kid sighed, then shrugged, tapping his stick in his hand a few times. "Gotta warm it up first," he informed the red-haired kitten. Raising the stick, he murmured more of those inchorent words. And Kaiba was again hit with a bright flash.
~~~***~~~
Kaiba moaned, softly. Then he slowly opened his eyes. He winced, as the strange tingling sensation ran through his body again, as his blood began to circulate. He raised himself up slightly, propping himself up on his elbows. He looked around, eyes flashing with murderous intentions.
But the kid was gone, again.
Growling, he sat up fully, pulling his knee close, resting his arms around it. He dropped his head forward, closing his eyes as he thought. Then very slowly he lifted his head again, holding up his hand. He stared at the palm of his hand for a moment. Then turned his hand, looking at the back of it. Then he started to examine his other hand. His legs, his chest. Relieved to find he was clothed. He then touched his face, gingerly. No longer furry.
Rolling to his side slightly, Kaiba pushed himself up, to a kneeling position, then began to stand up. He shook slightly. He grinned faintly, remembering he was pretty tall. And standing on two feet would take a bit of getting used to.
He blew aside his rust colored hair which hung over his right eye. Then he looked up the street. No cars, no people. Looking down the street, it was just as empty.
"... Weird..." he murmured, softly. There were no witnesses, again.
Kaiba was about to start heading for home. Only to freeze, and pat his ears, slightly. Everything sounded so dull, soft. Kinda faint.
Was his hearing really this bad?
... Well, by feline standards, yes.
Then he started for home, shaking his head along the way. Hoping his ears would pop, or something. No way could his hearing be this bad.
~~~***~~~
Mokuba yawned, as he laid on the sofa, chewing on some pocky, while reading a comic. His math sitting on the coffeetable, almost untouched. Except for a few questions. His notes for History were scattered around the floor, and on the coffeetable. As well as pens, pencils, erasers, and whiteout.
"Please, Mr. Kaiba... please, do some of your homework..." Neil was pleading.
"... I did enough..."
"Please, Mr. Kaiba!" Willy begged. "Your brother would have our heads, if..."
"... You guys are worried over nothing..." Mokuba said, cheerfully. He held out his box of pocky to his bodyguards. "Pocky?" he offered, with a bright smile.
"Uhh, no thanks, sir..." Neil said, waving it away. While Willy brightened, and reached for one. His hand instantly getting slapped by Neil.
Willy glared at Neil, while Neil gave him a scolding look. Then they both turned back to the younger Kaiba.
"Please, Mr. Kaiba... please, do your homework!" they pleaded again, in unison.
"... After I finish this..." Mokuba replied, holding up his comic, for emphasis. Neil and Willy anime sweatdropped.
"You said that about those ones..." Willy said, pointing at a stack of comics sitting on the easy chair.
"... And don't try saying after that box of pocky... you said that about those ones, too..." Neil pointed out, gesturing at a carton of pocky. And it was half-empty. A pile of empty pocky boxes building beside the carton.
"Mokuba.... stop with the pocky..." Clara, a short stocky woman, said, while bustling in the livingroom, as she wiped her hands off on her apron. Then she handed Willy a garbage bag, "you pick up the boxes... and you," she turned to Neil, "pick up the comics."
"Hey, we're bodyguards, not maids..." Willy said, haughtily. Until Clara glared at him, hands resting on her plump hips.
"Excuse me?" she said, peering at him, over her glasses.
Neil gulped, "undo it, undo it..." he grumbled to Willy, hastily.
"Uhhhh... sorry?" Willy mumbled, bowing quickly in apology.
Clara nodded, she then turned to Mokuba. Who was grinning at his bodyguards.
"Man, if you guys can't even stand up to Clara... how'll you deal with kidnappers, and all that?" he teased, then he started to laugh, while Neil and Willy anime sweatdropped.
Clara strolled up to the younger Kaiba, who was laying around so lazily. "Ah, Mr. Mokuba..." she said, in mock sweetness. "How would you like some delicious pepperoni pizza for dinner? Extra cheese."
Mokuba blinked, then smiled, "I'd like that..."
"Mm-hmm... and maybe a rootbeer float...?"
Mokuba's smile broadened, as he started to nod.
"... And perhaps for dessert, a chocolate parfait?"
Mokuba's smile became a grin. "My favorite? Really?" he asked, eagerly.
"Of course, my little darling..." Clara said, giving Mokuba an affecionate pat on the head. "But, to aquire all those, I'll need you to finish your homework... and if you don't finish by dinner, you're getting my cabbage and mushroom casserole..."
Mokuba paled, as he wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Ew, Clara..."
"... That's if you don't finish your homework by dinner..."
"That's called bribery..." Mokuba said, shaking his finger at Clara, disapprovingly. "Wait until Seto hears you've been trying to bribe me... and plus, I can't finish two pages of math, and a 400 word essay in an hour!"
"... That's a pretty sad excuse, little brother."
Mokuba and Clara turned to the doorframe. Eyes widening at the owner of the mansion, Seto Kaiba, smiling faintly, while leaning casually against the doorframe.
"Seto!" Mokuba cheered, as he got up, rushing to his big brother. Throwing his arms around his waist, in a tight hug. "Where've you been!?"
Kaiba smiled fondly at his little brother. Even giving him a small hug back.
Clara watched the older Kaiba, carefully. She'd been in this household for quite a few years. And never had she seen Seto Kaiba so... at ease.
Mokuba looked up at him, "well?"
"... No where... special..." Kaiba said, softly. Clara furrowed her brow, seeing a small twitch of pain cross the young man's handsome features.
Kaiba glanced at the housekeeper, "Clara..."
"Yes sir."
"I trust you've been keeping things in order."
"As well as I could, sir."
Kaiba smiled, faintly, "good." He glared half-heartedly at Mokuba, "so... snacking before meals, and not doing your homework..."
"This is the only time I did it!" Mokuba persisted.
"LIAR!" Neil and Willy hollered from the next room. Mokuba anime sweatdropped, while Clara chuckled into her hand.
Kaiba smirked, "busted."
Mokuba sighed glumly, as he dropped his head forward, in defeat.
~~~***~~~
Kaiba stared up at the ceiling, frowning slightly. His bed didn't seem as comforting as it used to be. He tucked his hands under his head.
Still no good.
Sighing, he rolled over onto his stomach, pulling the pillow closer as he gathered it close. Staring at the solid oak headboard, he grimaced and tried closing his eyes.
Nothing.
With another sigh, he rolled to his side, tucking his arm under his head. Looking out the window, past the thick dark blue curtains, the moon was bright despite it was only a half moon. Kaiba closed his eyes again.
Nada.
He rolled to his other side, staring into the dark room, barely making out his dresser, desk, chair, and bookcase. Light from the hallway was managing to get through, under the door, creating a small line of light. Shadows appeared under the door, in the light; somebody was walking by at the moment.
"Mokuba, go to bed..." Kaiba called.
The shadows stopped. Then hustled away, quickly.
Kaiba smiled, wryly. Then he closed his eyes. It was late. Well, it felt late. He looked at the clock on his bedside table. The hands pointing at 10 and 8. 10:40pm.
Growling, the CEO sat up, then threw himself back, into the pillows. "Go to sleep!" he commanded himself. He squeezed his eyes closed, then grimaced, and sat up.
"Fine... I can't sleep..." he muttered. He ran his hand through his hair, sighing. Then he frowned, "what's the matter?" he asked himself. "You can't sleep because you're alone?"
He shook his head. That was pathetic. He had been sleeping alone for years. Why did it make a difference now? Kaiba laid back down, stretched out. He rolled to his side, pulling his legs up, curling himself into a ball.
... It felt familiar.
He yawned, finally getting sleepy. His eyes closed, "it'd be nice... to be held... though..." he thought, then dozed off.
~~~***~~~
"Seto, wake up!" Mokuba called.
Kaiba grimaced, rolling over, and pulling the blanket over his head. Only to have his shoulder shaken. "C' mon, Seto! Time to get up!"
"... Go away..." Kaiba grunted.
Mokuba anime sweatdropped, "Seto...?"
The lump of blanket shifted slightly. But made no move to actually get up.
"Hey, c' mon... wake up..."
"... I am awake..."
"Get up, Seto..."
"... Hn..."
"Hey, just 'cause you're awake doesn't automatically make you up...!" Mokuba called, tugging at the blanket. Then the younger Kaiba blinked, hearing a very soft sound.
A chuckle.
Mokuba blinked, eyeing Seto, curiously. "What's so funny?"
"... Nothing..." the lump replied.
Mokuba shrugged, then tugged at the blanket, tearing it from Kaiba's grasp. Kaiba curled up tightly at the sudden rush of cold air. Mokuba managed to tug the entire blanket off the bed, and he tossed it aside. Then he was on the bed, jumping up and down.
"C' MON, SETO! TIME TO GET UP! YOU HAVE TO GET UP! NOW GET UP! C' MON, SETO!" he was calling, as he jumped.
Kaiba was still curled up, bouncing along, his eyes squeezed shut.
"... 10 more minutes..." he bargained.
Mokuba anime sweatdropped, then grinned. Whatever was wrong with Seto, it was kinda fun. He jumped off the bed, his hands on his hips.
"You have five... and you better be down for breakfast in ten... so five minutes more sleep, five minutes to get ready... fair?" he haggled.
"... Fair..." Kaiba grunted, yawning. He reached for his bathrobe, pulling it up and covering up with it. Mokuba snickered, and dashed out of the room to the kitchen.
~~~***~~~
Kaiba yawned, as he headed for the bathroom, rubbing his eyes, tiredly. Alright, he cheated and took seven minutes. So now he had three minutes to get ready.
He looked at his reflexion. His hair was a little messy due to the sleep. And maybe with contribution of Mokuba's trying to get him to get up. Kaiba furrowed his brow, in confusion. His complexion seemed a little different. With a shrug, and another yawn, he turned the cold water faucet. Slipping his hands under the water, cupping in the cold water, he leaned down, splashing his face with the water.
He sucked in a quick breath, instantly feeling more awake at the coldness. He washed his face one more time, once again gasping slightly. After that he reached for a towel, and dried his face off. Then reached for his toothbrush, yawning yet again.
Nine hours of sleep just wasn't enough.
While brushing his teeth, Kaiba pondered that. He usually made out fine with just four or five hours of sleep. Sometimes barely any sleep at all. And alright, it did leave him a little... cranky, as Mokuba would put it. But Kaiba made due with it, either way.
Kaiba spit into the sink, and cleaned off the brush, sitting it back in the cup; wiping off his mouth with the back of his hand, he headed back to his room. Straight for the closet, to get his school uniform.
~~~***~~~
"I don't know what you're so eager about, Mokuba..." Clara was saying.
"Trust me, Clara..." Mokuba said, with a knowing smile. "Wherever Seto went to, it made him feel a lot better than usual... so, if he's feeling better, he'll have a big appetite..."
The housekeeper glanced at the plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages, and hashbrowns, uncertainly. "But all he has is toast and coffee... it's all he has time for..." she argued, half-heartedly.
"That's when he needs to get to work... he actually tried to sleep in, Clara..." Mokuba whispered, like it was a huge deal.
And when Clara's eyes widened, apparently it was a huge deal.
"Anyways... I'm guessing Seto took a small trip, ya know, without telling anybody... that way no one'd bother him, so he could enjoy a break... so, this is his first morning without stressing, so...?"
"Alright, alright..." Clara said, shaking her head.
Then Kaiba entered the kitchen, "morning..." he greeted.
Mokuba shot his housekeeper an 'I-told-you-so' grin. Then smiled at his older brother, "'morning, Seto..."
"Good morning, sir..." Clara replied, with a polite nod.
"Care for a real breakfast this time, Seto?" Mokuba asked, gesturing at the plate of food sitting on the table. Kaiba pursed his lips, then glanced at his watch. Then to Clara's astonishment, Seto Kaiba shrugged, heading for the table, and sat down.
"... Oh... fork..." he muttered, ready to get back up.
"Got it..." Mokuba said, dashing to his brother, sitting the fork beside the plate.
"Thanks, little brother..."
"No problem," Mokuba replied, brightly.
Clara blinked. Seto Kaiba, her very first charge in this household, was usually a little more hectic and frantic in the mornings. Especially mondays. But now...
"... You finish your report?" Kaiba was asking Mokuba.
Mokuba smiled, "yup..."
"How'd you do?"
"... I think it's good..."
"Your essay on dinosaurs?"
"That's not due until wednesday..."
"... Good... we'll go to the museum this afternoon, then..."
Mokuba grinned, "alright..!"
Clara blinked, again. Then smiled, hopefully whatever had Seto this way would last. At least until the end of the day.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Yasuo: ..... this one seems pretty long...
Nanashi: ... yeah, it kinda does... *anime sweatdrops* oops...
Nanaki: ... *pouts* where's Tristy...?
Nanashi: school's next, so...
Nanaki: oh!!! WAI!!! ^_^
Yasuo: *rolls his eyes*
Warnings: shounen-ai... more or less... and watch for mild language, too
Nanashi: another professional way of doing things! Yay, guys! *applauds*
Yasuo: *bows*
Nanaki: *blushes, and bows*
Nanashi: .... my hamster died...
Nanaki: what!? when!?
Yasuo: you had a hamster?
Nanashi: *nods sadly* I'll miss him... *sniffles*
Nanaki: awwwwww, there there, Nana-chan! *huggles Nana-chan*
Yasuo: ........ *rolls his eyes* ... girls...
Nanashi & Nanaki: *glare at Yasuo*
Yasuo: ........ *anime sweatdrops, and grins innocently* I feel your pain...?
Nanashi: *nods* you better...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kaiba quickly whipped his head around, eyes widening, spotting Tristan.
His eyebrow was raised, a plastic bag of groceries slung over his shoulder, and his thumb was hooked in the beltloop of his jeans. And the brunette was watching Bakura and Malik, looking a little confused.
Malik then pointed at the feline-ish CEO, "hey, what happened, exactly?" he asked.
Tristan blinked, as he walked over, "what?"
Kaiba started to struggle. Then scowled and swiped at Malik's hand.
"ACK!" Malik yelped, as he whipped his hand away from the moody kitten. "Geez, what's his problem?"
Tristan tossed Malik a bag of lentils, then turned to Bakura, his hand out to take back Akai. "He's a little tempermental..." he answered.
Bakura shrugged, handing the kitten back.
"So what happened?" Malik asked, again.
Tristan blinked, as he held Akai, "what?"
"What happened to him?"
Kaiba shifted uncomfortably.
"To the cat?"
"Yeah."
Tristan anime sweatdropped, "uh, not much...?"
Bakura rolled his eyes. "He means what made him like that," he informed the taller teenager. Malik nodded, in confirmation.
Tristan pursed his lips, "say what?"
"What made him like that?"
"What made who like what?"
"Him... Kaiba," Bakura responded, pointing at the kitten. Tristan's eyebrow was again raised, then he looked down at the kitten, even more confused.
Kaiba's heart nearly stopped. He looked up at Tristan, instantly feeling like an idiot, all over again. And no amount of comfort from Tristan could possibly fix it. That stare. The CEO couldn't stand it.
He struggled, getting out of the brunette's arms; once on the ground, he just ran not even bothering to gather his bearings after the long drop. He just ran. Didn't matter to where. Kaiba was just certain he didn't want to deal with Tristan's stares, and questions.
"Akai!"
Kaiba ignored him. This wasn't him. He couldn't stay this way. Not anymore. Seto Kaiba wasn't dependent. Seto Kaiba was cold, heartless, strong. Not weak and in need of someone to care for him. He wasn't like that!
He could never be like that.
~~~***~~~
"Him... Kaiba," Malik had said.
Tristan's eyes widened, in astonishment. Then he looked down at the kitten. Those huge blue eyes staring up at him. Almost looking ashamed.
Seto Kaiba?
It all actually made sense. There was always this sense of familarity Tristan had when watching the kitten. The defiance, the need to prove his independence. The annoyance when he was told what to do. Just the intensity the kitten had was enough for Tristan to notice that the kitten was actually very familiar to the brunette.
Then Kaiba, or Akai, started struggling, breaking out of Tristan's hold. Even after getting a little shaken from his jump, Akai still ran.
"Akai!"
Tristan stared after the kitten, watching him run. His heart went out to him. Poor little guy. A part of him wanted to run after the kitten, console him, comfort him. Just be there for him.
But another part of him was telling him to stay put. If that kitten was Seto Kaiba, he had pride. A lot of it. And pity was the last thing a prideful person could ever want.
Bakura and Malik were staring, too.
"What got into him?" Malik asked.
Bakura scowled at the Egyptian. "Do you know the meaning of the word 'subtle'?" he asked, dryly.
"Yes... 'Subtle means delicate, slight; not noticeable; difficult to define, put into words,'" Malik retorted, calmly.
Bakura rolled his eyes.
Tristan shook his head, ignoring the pair, as he started for home. He had things to drop off. Then he had a kitten to find.
~~~***~~~
Kaiba sighed, as he wandered the streets. Having no destination was getting on his nerves.
Going home was out of the question. And Tristan's obviously wasn't an option after running from him.
The kitten finally just gave up on walking, and sat down. His tail curling neatly around him, as he glanced up the street. Then down the street. His ears drooped slightly, as he let his head fall forward, glumly.
Another sigh was released. Then Kaiba frowned at himself.
"You're being pathetic..." he told himself, annoyed. "It's not like I could've stayed... things wouldn't have been the same if I stayed with Tristan, and he knew who I was."
Kaiba tilted his head, as he thought about it.
Would Tristan have treated him differently if he knew he was Seto Kaiba?
A very small part of him was saying "no". But that part was being told to shut up by a larger portion of Kaiba's common sense. As well as his pessimism.
Kaiba stood up, lowering his head, and started to pace back and forth, as he thought. Go back, or keep walking. Back, or stay? He sat down again, his tail once again curling around him. Offering a bit of comfort.
"... Not the way Tristan can, though..." Kaiba thought, staring at his tail. Then he anime sweatdropped, and shook his head. "Get over it... nothing would've happened!" he said to himself, bitterly.
If anything would have happened, it would have been REALLY wrong, both morally and physically. A human and a kitten.
Kaiba shook his head again. Then he sighed, faintly. Would he stay like this? That was the question.
Maybe he should have stuck around. Bakura and Malik might have been able to offer some assistance...
... But the way Tristan looked at him. It kind of hurt Kaiba. Just being looked at from such expressionless eyes. The gold-grey eyes that usually held warmth, humor, and compassion even, were empty.
Maybe confusion, but that was it.
Kaiba just had to get out of there, away from that stare.
But even then, he was hurting. It was small pained feeling in his chest. His heart felt hollow, almost. He started cursing himself for running away. He liked Tristan. He liked being with him. He liked the physical contact, he enjoyed the entire ordeal.
He was positive that if someone else had found him and took him in, Kaiba wouldn't have been as happy as he was with Tristan.
"Hello there, kitty..."
Kaiba looked up at the person speaking. Then his eyes widened. It was that same damn kid! The CEO-turned-kitten jumped back to his feet, spinning and landing on all four paws, his back arching, as he glared viciously at the kid.
"Get the hell away from me!" he snarled.
"Such language coming from a kitten..."
Kaiba's eyes widened, again. "You... understand me..?"
"Well, I am the one who changed you."
"... Bastard...!"
".... You're a foul-mouthed little thing, ain't you?"
"Change me back! I just wanna forget this entire thing happened!"
"You've only been a neko for two days..."
"Two hell-filled days!"
The kid smirked, as he knelt down in front of Kaiba, and patted his head. "You know, as well as I do, that 'hell-filled' is definitely not the word you were looking for..." he said, smugly.
Kaiba jerked back, still glaring at him. "Where do you get off thinking you understand me?" he demanded, annoyed.
"Oh, c' mon now, kitty... you liked the concept of relaxing, just taking it easy... have you worried about anything at all while in this state?"
Kaiba frowned, as he looked away. Alright, the kid had a point there. He didn't worry about anything. But now that Kaiba thought about it, this whole thing was making him shirk his responsibilties. Taking care of his brother was his only priority. His corporation being their main income.
Kaiba worked for his brother.
"Kitty?"
Kaiba looked up at the kid, deapan. "Change me back..." he said, quietly.
"Mmmm... why?"
"... I can't ignore my responsibilties... Mokuba is my responsibility... he's all I have... I worked hard to get where I am, and I won't give it up for a few days of relaxing."
The kid stroked his chin, with a wry smile. "Would you give it up for Tristan, though...? That's the thing I want you to think about..."
Kaiba frowned, as he dropped his head, his ears drooping sadly.
"That loneliness of yours, even when I first saw you, you looked like a lonely sad little boy, desperate for a friend..."
"... Shut up."
The kid chuckled, ruefully. "You made acquaintances like this, kitty..." he said, lightly. "You don't consider them your friends, but you did get a little closer to them like this... all because you had a different form, you could act the way you wanted... you opened up because you were different physically, so you allowed yourself to change emotionally."
"Ooh, that was very deep..." Kaiba said, sarcastically. "Change me back!"
The kid sighed, as he stood up, taking a stick from his pocket, "alright then." He smirked, faintly, "you'll be your old self again... Tristan won't be able hold you anymore."
"... Can I ask you a question?"
"Yes."
"Can you tell me when I gave off the indication that I cared?"
The kid anime sweatdropped, then smiled. "You look so sad when I bring up Tristan's name," he answered.
"... Go to hell," Kaiba hissed, looking away.
"Alas... no more nights in his arms, no more just hearing his voice, no more of his comforting... no more leering at his body..."
Kaiba's face reddened at the last one, so he glared viciously at the kid. "Change me back, now... and stay right where you are, so I can kill you!"
"Hey, I struck a nerve..."
"Change me back."
The kid sighed, then shrugged, tapping his stick in his hand a few times. "Gotta warm it up first," he informed the red-haired kitten. Raising the stick, he murmured more of those inchorent words. And Kaiba was again hit with a bright flash.
~~~***~~~
Kaiba moaned, softly. Then he slowly opened his eyes. He winced, as the strange tingling sensation ran through his body again, as his blood began to circulate. He raised himself up slightly, propping himself up on his elbows. He looked around, eyes flashing with murderous intentions.
But the kid was gone, again.
Growling, he sat up fully, pulling his knee close, resting his arms around it. He dropped his head forward, closing his eyes as he thought. Then very slowly he lifted his head again, holding up his hand. He stared at the palm of his hand for a moment. Then turned his hand, looking at the back of it. Then he started to examine his other hand. His legs, his chest. Relieved to find he was clothed. He then touched his face, gingerly. No longer furry.
Rolling to his side slightly, Kaiba pushed himself up, to a kneeling position, then began to stand up. He shook slightly. He grinned faintly, remembering he was pretty tall. And standing on two feet would take a bit of getting used to.
He blew aside his rust colored hair which hung over his right eye. Then he looked up the street. No cars, no people. Looking down the street, it was just as empty.
"... Weird..." he murmured, softly. There were no witnesses, again.
Kaiba was about to start heading for home. Only to freeze, and pat his ears, slightly. Everything sounded so dull, soft. Kinda faint.
Was his hearing really this bad?
... Well, by feline standards, yes.
Then he started for home, shaking his head along the way. Hoping his ears would pop, or something. No way could his hearing be this bad.
~~~***~~~
Mokuba yawned, as he laid on the sofa, chewing on some pocky, while reading a comic. His math sitting on the coffeetable, almost untouched. Except for a few questions. His notes for History were scattered around the floor, and on the coffeetable. As well as pens, pencils, erasers, and whiteout.
"Please, Mr. Kaiba... please, do some of your homework..." Neil was pleading.
"... I did enough..."
"Please, Mr. Kaiba!" Willy begged. "Your brother would have our heads, if..."
"... You guys are worried over nothing..." Mokuba said, cheerfully. He held out his box of pocky to his bodyguards. "Pocky?" he offered, with a bright smile.
"Uhh, no thanks, sir..." Neil said, waving it away. While Willy brightened, and reached for one. His hand instantly getting slapped by Neil.
Willy glared at Neil, while Neil gave him a scolding look. Then they both turned back to the younger Kaiba.
"Please, Mr. Kaiba... please, do your homework!" they pleaded again, in unison.
"... After I finish this..." Mokuba replied, holding up his comic, for emphasis. Neil and Willy anime sweatdropped.
"You said that about those ones..." Willy said, pointing at a stack of comics sitting on the easy chair.
"... And don't try saying after that box of pocky... you said that about those ones, too..." Neil pointed out, gesturing at a carton of pocky. And it was half-empty. A pile of empty pocky boxes building beside the carton.
"Mokuba.... stop with the pocky..." Clara, a short stocky woman, said, while bustling in the livingroom, as she wiped her hands off on her apron. Then she handed Willy a garbage bag, "you pick up the boxes... and you," she turned to Neil, "pick up the comics."
"Hey, we're bodyguards, not maids..." Willy said, haughtily. Until Clara glared at him, hands resting on her plump hips.
"Excuse me?" she said, peering at him, over her glasses.
Neil gulped, "undo it, undo it..." he grumbled to Willy, hastily.
"Uhhhh... sorry?" Willy mumbled, bowing quickly in apology.
Clara nodded, she then turned to Mokuba. Who was grinning at his bodyguards.
"Man, if you guys can't even stand up to Clara... how'll you deal with kidnappers, and all that?" he teased, then he started to laugh, while Neil and Willy anime sweatdropped.
Clara strolled up to the younger Kaiba, who was laying around so lazily. "Ah, Mr. Mokuba..." she said, in mock sweetness. "How would you like some delicious pepperoni pizza for dinner? Extra cheese."
Mokuba blinked, then smiled, "I'd like that..."
"Mm-hmm... and maybe a rootbeer float...?"
Mokuba's smile broadened, as he started to nod.
"... And perhaps for dessert, a chocolate parfait?"
Mokuba's smile became a grin. "My favorite? Really?" he asked, eagerly.
"Of course, my little darling..." Clara said, giving Mokuba an affecionate pat on the head. "But, to aquire all those, I'll need you to finish your homework... and if you don't finish by dinner, you're getting my cabbage and mushroom casserole..."
Mokuba paled, as he wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Ew, Clara..."
"... That's if you don't finish your homework by dinner..."
"That's called bribery..." Mokuba said, shaking his finger at Clara, disapprovingly. "Wait until Seto hears you've been trying to bribe me... and plus, I can't finish two pages of math, and a 400 word essay in an hour!"
"... That's a pretty sad excuse, little brother."
Mokuba and Clara turned to the doorframe. Eyes widening at the owner of the mansion, Seto Kaiba, smiling faintly, while leaning casually against the doorframe.
"Seto!" Mokuba cheered, as he got up, rushing to his big brother. Throwing his arms around his waist, in a tight hug. "Where've you been!?"
Kaiba smiled fondly at his little brother. Even giving him a small hug back.
Clara watched the older Kaiba, carefully. She'd been in this household for quite a few years. And never had she seen Seto Kaiba so... at ease.
Mokuba looked up at him, "well?"
"... No where... special..." Kaiba said, softly. Clara furrowed her brow, seeing a small twitch of pain cross the young man's handsome features.
Kaiba glanced at the housekeeper, "Clara..."
"Yes sir."
"I trust you've been keeping things in order."
"As well as I could, sir."
Kaiba smiled, faintly, "good." He glared half-heartedly at Mokuba, "so... snacking before meals, and not doing your homework..."
"This is the only time I did it!" Mokuba persisted.
"LIAR!" Neil and Willy hollered from the next room. Mokuba anime sweatdropped, while Clara chuckled into her hand.
Kaiba smirked, "busted."
Mokuba sighed glumly, as he dropped his head forward, in defeat.
~~~***~~~
Kaiba stared up at the ceiling, frowning slightly. His bed didn't seem as comforting as it used to be. He tucked his hands under his head.
Still no good.
Sighing, he rolled over onto his stomach, pulling the pillow closer as he gathered it close. Staring at the solid oak headboard, he grimaced and tried closing his eyes.
Nothing.
With another sigh, he rolled to his side, tucking his arm under his head. Looking out the window, past the thick dark blue curtains, the moon was bright despite it was only a half moon. Kaiba closed his eyes again.
Nada.
He rolled to his other side, staring into the dark room, barely making out his dresser, desk, chair, and bookcase. Light from the hallway was managing to get through, under the door, creating a small line of light. Shadows appeared under the door, in the light; somebody was walking by at the moment.
"Mokuba, go to bed..." Kaiba called.
The shadows stopped. Then hustled away, quickly.
Kaiba smiled, wryly. Then he closed his eyes. It was late. Well, it felt late. He looked at the clock on his bedside table. The hands pointing at 10 and 8. 10:40pm.
Growling, the CEO sat up, then threw himself back, into the pillows. "Go to sleep!" he commanded himself. He squeezed his eyes closed, then grimaced, and sat up.
"Fine... I can't sleep..." he muttered. He ran his hand through his hair, sighing. Then he frowned, "what's the matter?" he asked himself. "You can't sleep because you're alone?"
He shook his head. That was pathetic. He had been sleeping alone for years. Why did it make a difference now? Kaiba laid back down, stretched out. He rolled to his side, pulling his legs up, curling himself into a ball.
... It felt familiar.
He yawned, finally getting sleepy. His eyes closed, "it'd be nice... to be held... though..." he thought, then dozed off.
~~~***~~~
"Seto, wake up!" Mokuba called.
Kaiba grimaced, rolling over, and pulling the blanket over his head. Only to have his shoulder shaken. "C' mon, Seto! Time to get up!"
"... Go away..." Kaiba grunted.
Mokuba anime sweatdropped, "Seto...?"
The lump of blanket shifted slightly. But made no move to actually get up.
"Hey, c' mon... wake up..."
"... I am awake..."
"Get up, Seto..."
"... Hn..."
"Hey, just 'cause you're awake doesn't automatically make you up...!" Mokuba called, tugging at the blanket. Then the younger Kaiba blinked, hearing a very soft sound.
A chuckle.
Mokuba blinked, eyeing Seto, curiously. "What's so funny?"
"... Nothing..." the lump replied.
Mokuba shrugged, then tugged at the blanket, tearing it from Kaiba's grasp. Kaiba curled up tightly at the sudden rush of cold air. Mokuba managed to tug the entire blanket off the bed, and he tossed it aside. Then he was on the bed, jumping up and down.
"C' MON, SETO! TIME TO GET UP! YOU HAVE TO GET UP! NOW GET UP! C' MON, SETO!" he was calling, as he jumped.
Kaiba was still curled up, bouncing along, his eyes squeezed shut.
"... 10 more minutes..." he bargained.
Mokuba anime sweatdropped, then grinned. Whatever was wrong with Seto, it was kinda fun. He jumped off the bed, his hands on his hips.
"You have five... and you better be down for breakfast in ten... so five minutes more sleep, five minutes to get ready... fair?" he haggled.
"... Fair..." Kaiba grunted, yawning. He reached for his bathrobe, pulling it up and covering up with it. Mokuba snickered, and dashed out of the room to the kitchen.
~~~***~~~
Kaiba yawned, as he headed for the bathroom, rubbing his eyes, tiredly. Alright, he cheated and took seven minutes. So now he had three minutes to get ready.
He looked at his reflexion. His hair was a little messy due to the sleep. And maybe with contribution of Mokuba's trying to get him to get up. Kaiba furrowed his brow, in confusion. His complexion seemed a little different. With a shrug, and another yawn, he turned the cold water faucet. Slipping his hands under the water, cupping in the cold water, he leaned down, splashing his face with the water.
He sucked in a quick breath, instantly feeling more awake at the coldness. He washed his face one more time, once again gasping slightly. After that he reached for a towel, and dried his face off. Then reached for his toothbrush, yawning yet again.
Nine hours of sleep just wasn't enough.
While brushing his teeth, Kaiba pondered that. He usually made out fine with just four or five hours of sleep. Sometimes barely any sleep at all. And alright, it did leave him a little... cranky, as Mokuba would put it. But Kaiba made due with it, either way.
Kaiba spit into the sink, and cleaned off the brush, sitting it back in the cup; wiping off his mouth with the back of his hand, he headed back to his room. Straight for the closet, to get his school uniform.
~~~***~~~
"I don't know what you're so eager about, Mokuba..." Clara was saying.
"Trust me, Clara..." Mokuba said, with a knowing smile. "Wherever Seto went to, it made him feel a lot better than usual... so, if he's feeling better, he'll have a big appetite..."
The housekeeper glanced at the plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages, and hashbrowns, uncertainly. "But all he has is toast and coffee... it's all he has time for..." she argued, half-heartedly.
"That's when he needs to get to work... he actually tried to sleep in, Clara..." Mokuba whispered, like it was a huge deal.
And when Clara's eyes widened, apparently it was a huge deal.
"Anyways... I'm guessing Seto took a small trip, ya know, without telling anybody... that way no one'd bother him, so he could enjoy a break... so, this is his first morning without stressing, so...?"
"Alright, alright..." Clara said, shaking her head.
Then Kaiba entered the kitchen, "morning..." he greeted.
Mokuba shot his housekeeper an 'I-told-you-so' grin. Then smiled at his older brother, "'morning, Seto..."
"Good morning, sir..." Clara replied, with a polite nod.
"Care for a real breakfast this time, Seto?" Mokuba asked, gesturing at the plate of food sitting on the table. Kaiba pursed his lips, then glanced at his watch. Then to Clara's astonishment, Seto Kaiba shrugged, heading for the table, and sat down.
"... Oh... fork..." he muttered, ready to get back up.
"Got it..." Mokuba said, dashing to his brother, sitting the fork beside the plate.
"Thanks, little brother..."
"No problem," Mokuba replied, brightly.
Clara blinked. Seto Kaiba, her very first charge in this household, was usually a little more hectic and frantic in the mornings. Especially mondays. But now...
"... You finish your report?" Kaiba was asking Mokuba.
Mokuba smiled, "yup..."
"How'd you do?"
"... I think it's good..."
"Your essay on dinosaurs?"
"That's not due until wednesday..."
"... Good... we'll go to the museum this afternoon, then..."
Mokuba grinned, "alright..!"
Clara blinked, again. Then smiled, hopefully whatever had Seto this way would last. At least until the end of the day.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Yasuo: ..... this one seems pretty long...
Nanashi: ... yeah, it kinda does... *anime sweatdrops* oops...
Nanaki: ... *pouts* where's Tristy...?
Nanashi: school's next, so...
Nanaki: oh!!! WAI!!! ^_^
Yasuo: *rolls his eyes*