http : // www. geocities. com / enjoythehiatus / stories / iss / an.html
only remove the spaces. of course. ^^;;
(Reminiscent)
Seto watched as Mokuba dropped into Yuugi's lap, grinning like the Cheshire cat. It was really amazing; after four years Mokuba still managed to light up whenever he was near Yuugi. That was enough to assure Seto that his decision years ago had been the right one…
"Would you like something to drink, Kaiba?" Yuugi's question brought Seto from his memories and back into the real world. He found it difficult to look at Yuugi; it had been like that since Seto had stopped seeing Yami. There were too many reminders, especially now that Yuugi was older. He had gotten a little taller (though not by much; he was maybe 5'1", 5'2"), and he was a little less boyish looking… but he still didn't look much older than Mokuba, who was - at seventeen - about the same height and build as Yuugi, his features more defined… and yet his boyish charm had somehow managed to survive puberty. Seto had always suspected that Mokuba would hit a growth spurt; he must have been mistaken. Once again, Yuugi's voice pulled Seto from reverie. "I think we have something besides tap water…"
Anzu rolled her eyes, and Seto found it easier to focus on her. "Yuugi, you and Jounouchi are the worst people to live together: neither of you clean, cook, or have enough wits to remember to pick up groceries. I'm surprised your bills get paid." Anzu disappeared into the doorway that led to the kitchenette. According to Anzu, she had cleaned the apartment for the anniversary party. Seto had only been to Yuugi and Jounouchi's apartment one other time in the two years they had lived together, and that time he had stood in the hallway and waited for Mokuba…
Damn it, why was he reminiscing? Mokuba had asked him to stay, and he was going to pay attention to his surroundings; it wasn't like him to drift away in his own thoughts like that. He forced himself to pay attention to the conversation.
Yuugi was laughing, "…and for your information, Jou is good with bills; I just give him what I need to pay and leave it to him."
Seto scoffed. There. That was something he could focus on doing: mocking Jounouchi. "That's amusing. I wouldn't trust that mutt to tie his own shoelaces."
Jounouchi bristled from his seat on the couch. He had been talking to Honda, but stopped to turn around and glare at Seto. "You're too kind," he tossed back, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "because that's more than I'd trust you with, you sleazy-"
"Guys," Mokuba groaned, his voice amusingly close to a whine; it was enough to make Seto want to crack a small smile. "Not tonight."
"Yea," Anzu chimed in. "Today we should be celebrating; Yuugi and Mokuba have been together four years! Can't you guys set aside your differences for a couple of hours?"
Jounouchi took one more moment to glare before shrugging and turning his back to Seto. "Fine." He murmured something that sounded like "asshole" before he started talking to Honda again. Seto looked at Mokuba.
"Your taste in friends is deplorable," Seto told him, and Mokuba laughed.
Seto had spent most the party sitting in the corner, drinking water and munching on food when it was offered to him. He had stayed as late as he could stand, and the clock on the dashboard of the car read 12:37 AM when they finally left. Seto had arrived at the apartment 4 PM that day. Mokuba had been there since that morning. Seto would probably never understand how Mokuba seemed to have so much fun in such mundane circumstances…
Leaving the party was more than a relief. Throughout the night he been reminded time and time again that he had nothing to say among that group of people; they had no common interests, no similar wants or needs… nothing. It probably didn't help that he could find flaws in any one of them too easily, and was quickly discontent with their banter and triviality. The only person he had spoken more than 2 sentences to was Mokuba. Speaking of Mokuba… He noticed his younger brother was stifling a yawn, leaning against the window with drooping eyes.
"You're going to be dragging ass in work tomorrow," Seto chided softly. Mokuba had started working at Kaiba Corp when he turned sixteen, falling into all the roles that had been his in name since he was a child, but he had been unable to fulfill entirely until he was an adult.
"I know," Mokuba said. "But it was a celebration; I'd pick Yuugi over work 5 out of 7 days of the week."
"Why only 5?"
"Well, a guy's gotta eat."
Seto laughed. "That's justified." He continued to drive in silence; they were almost home.
"Say, Seto, do you mind if I got on a camping trip this weekend?"
"Who with?"
Mokuba yawned again. "Some friends from school. We said we'd meet up this summer; Senko called this afternoon and told me that the whole group was going. We'll get back Sunday morning."
"And when do you plan to leave?" Seto was trying his hardest not to yawn; his brother's sleepiness was getting to him.
"Friday afternoon."
Seto mulled it over. Mokuba didn't have to work that weekend, and he wouldn't have done anything at home anyway. "Go ahead."
"Thanks." Seto nodded even though he knew Mokuba wouldn't see. Admittedly, it had taken time for him to get used to the fact that Mokuba wasn't going to spend his life with Seto, but he hadn't fought it. He supposed to blow had been lessened significantly by his short romance with Yami… but Seto tried not to make a habit of thinking about it. He shook his head a little, as though that would help clear his thoughts away, like his memories would be like an etch-a-sketch; temporary and easy to erase. He knew otherwise; he knew that he could shake his head all night if he wanted to, but when he was done all he'd be left with was a headache and just as many memories as he had started with… but probably a few less brain cells.
Seto pulled up to the house, the gates opening before he entered. He would have to tell the night guard not to do that again; for all the guard knew, someone could have stolen Seto's car and snuck in the house as him. Mokuba's voice broke through Seto's thoughts for what seemed to be the millionth time that night. "Seto, did you enjoy yourself tonight?"
Seto wouldn't lie; he shrugged and said, "It was time I could have spent working."
Mokuba sighed. "There's more to life that work." Seto didn't bother talking until they had left the car and were at the front door of their home.
"I have nothing in common with your friends. I'm not like you; I don't spontaneously enjoy myself."
"I know," Mokuba said, a sad tinge to his voice. "You enjoy formulas and technology and all those cold, impersonal things. I don't think that's healthy, Seto."
Seto choose to ignore his brother's concern as they stood by the front door. "Go and sleep."
"What about you?"
"I'm going to see what I didn't do today."
Mokuba looked at Seto reproachfully. "You need sleep too."
"I sleep plenty."
"Liar; I can hear you at your computer at all hours of the night. I'm not going to bed until you go to bed, so if you want me alert in the morning, you'd better get some sleep too," Mokuba threatened, his hands on his hips, staring up at his brother.
Seto glared. "That's manipulative."
Mokuba grinned and leaned against the wall, saying solemnly, "The art of manipulation is sometimes the quickest way to get what you want. It may be devious, but it's effective." A moment of silence passed between the brothers.
"I taught you that."
"Yup." Mokuba crossed his arms over his chest. "So which is it, work or my well-being?"
When he put it like that… Damn kid. Seto really did love him too much. "Fine. Bed." They walked together in silence, Mokuba looking smug as ever as he followed beside Seto. Mokuba didn't speak until he reached his bedroom door, just a few doors down from Seto's.
"G'night," he mumbled, quickly disappearing into his own room. Seto heard the lock click into place once the door was closed. He went to his own room, true to his word. Unfortunately, he wasn't particularly tired. He usually only slept a few hours a night, if he slept at all. After a couple years on that schedule he had adapted to it without flaw. Some days it made him feel numb, but that often came in handy when working with liars and businessmen (though the two were often one and the same). If he tried to go to sleep too early, he would only toss, turn, and think all night…
He always managed to think of Yami the most when he was lying in bed.
After they had stopped seeing each other, Seto did everything he could think of to stop pining after the spirit like a heartsick widow. That led him to buy a new bed with new sheets, blankets, pillows, and pillowcases. Everything was different in both color and design. The old bed with all its old bedclothes and accessories was gathering dust in a storage unit somewhere on the estate; he had told one of his workers to move it, under strict orders not tell him where it was.
Then Seto had realized that it went beyond his bed: he ended up purchasing a new kitchen table and a new couch… When Mokuba had found out, he asked to keep the old couch, and since Seto was too embarrassed to tell Mokuba WHY he was compulsively replacing the furniture, he had agreed. It had taken all of Seto's self-control not to replace the shower in his room.
At least he hadn't needed to replace his car.
Seto frowned at his sheets (even though he knew they were inanimate and therefore incapable of caring if he frowned at them) as he undressed, not bothering with pajamas as he crawled into bed. He didn't like his sheets; where cream-colored sheets had once adorned his bed, it was now covered in black. While it may have been complete opposition to what he had once slept on, they looked too coarse, too… extreme, even for him. Not to mention that the contrast of his skin against the dark color made him look almost ghostly pale, and for some reason that bothered him.
At least his bed was comfortable.
Seto yawned despite himself. Sleep was coming much easier than he had expected…
Then again, thinking about the past was probably the most exhausting activity he ever engaged in.
- author thoughts... -
I… am so scared. *quake quake* I worry this is starting too slow… or that it doesn't do that… thing… that stories should do… You know?
I, admittedly, had way too much fun with implying all the different places that Seto and Yami went at it… XD It's my favorite part of this whole part…
I originally tried to open the story on Mokuba's POV… but when that didn't work, I shifted it to Seto. Then it came. How cool. Other than that, there really isn't much to say about Part I…
And WOW! I gave Hanachan a piece of work with this part… and she in turn gave me a cardiac event when I opened it and saw her multitude of notes… so between the two of us I'd say I've been sufficiently whipped into shape. I want to say she wasn't very happy with me, considering the words: Holy bleedin' shit. I go on siesta for ONE WEEK and you pound me with this! *heart heart* I love her to death.