Aria: Wow, it's been a while since I've thought about this story!
Kaiba: It's been a month, you twit.
Aria: *shrugs* Hey, I've been busy, Kaiba. And this was a particularly eventful one. But, leaving that behind for now, I'm back with another *warning: FLUFFY* chapter of Secrets...yay, piano music and fluff. And Yami angst!
Yami: *glares*
Aria: Sorry, Yami, but let's face it...you are an angsty character.
Yami: *starts to say something, then thinks about it and nods and shrugs*
Yugi: *starry eyes* Piano music...?
Aria: Oh, yes. You will enjoy this chapter, Yugi. Even if Yami doesn't. And he REALLY won't.
Yami: I hate you.
Aria: You do NOW...but later...anyway, people don't want to read these little dialogues, they want to read the story! I hope...so, in light of that...
Bakura: *winces* MUST you use "light"?
Aria: Sorry. Um, because of that, we need to get started! So, I need someone to do the disclaimer---and I have just the person in mind! So, Lorrie, if you will...
Lorrie: *blinks* Huh? What am I doing here?
Aria: Read this.
Lorrie: Um...okay...this is the disclaimer. In other words, Aria doesn't own Yu-Gi-Oh! or Revolutionary Girl Utena, although if anyone knows a way she can meet Touga...
Aria: *blushes and snatches the paper away* Um, okay, that's great, thanks. And for your troubles...*snaps fingers* *Darcy appears*
Darcy: *bewildered, but going with it* Back again, eh?
Lorrie: *simpers*
Aria: Yeah. Um, have fun!
Lorrie: *is escorted away by Darcy, who starts to profess his undying love for her*
Aria: Um. Also, here's a shameless plug for my new story, Persuasion, which is all about Kaiba and Joey. Because I LOVE them. And they love each other. And it makes me happy.
Everyone: *glares*
Aria: Um, yeah, so, here goes...
* * *
SECRETS OF A ROSE
Chapter Six: Concert
"I can't believe we're going to this concert!" Yugi said as he struggled with his dress shirt before a mirror, glancing nervously at his dark-blue dress pants and still-damp hair. "This is a fantastic opportunity. Do you know the kind of people who GO to these things?"
Yami, in the adjoining room, brushed a few long dark hairs off his jacket before swinging it on and straightening it over his shoulders, and replied through the open door.
"Calm down, Yugi. We'll all be there, as well as the Student Council members. I know this is an important concert, but try not to get too worked up about it." He ran pale fingers through his wild hair, and his dark eyes gazed at his reflection impassively. After his night of sleepless wanderings, he had dozed for a while and woken with bleary eyes and a foul temper. The last thing he wanted to do right now was to go and listen to Miki Kaoru play the piano...but Yugi was so excited about it. And after all, he smiled wryly; a little socializing never did any harm.
He cast a last critical eye at the mirror, taking in the slim black dress pants, the silvery shirt, the well-cut jacket. His eyes burned feverishly with lack of sleep, and he rubbed them hard to clear them before going into Yugi's room.
The smaller boy was fussing with his shirt, tucking it into the black pants. He glanced back at the spirit, and smiled. "I'll be ready in just a second," he promised, and reached for a bottle of cologne.
Yami sat on the bed and waited, watching with interest the small, quick hands running through the thick wild hair, the way the smooth material of his deep blue shirt tugged against his flat shoulder blades and pulled at the small of his back, how the first two buttons were undone so that the neck of the shirt fell slightly open, how the pale skin of his neck shone through. Yugi gave himself a last glance, then turned to face Yami with a worried expression.
"How do I look?"
Yami got up, and walked around his smaller half with a mock-serious expression, nodding solemnly and muttering to himself. He stopped in front of the smaller boy and looked at him with a grim expression.
For a second Yugi paled, then he laughed and swung at Yami good-naturedly. "Good," he said. "Let's go meet up with the others."
* * *
They walked through rose-scented evening air, talking and laughing together, and Yami was content, the fears of the sleepless night before vanishing under the warmth of Yugi's smile. They were one, inseparable. He would never doubt their bond again.
The others were waiting for them at the entrance to the glass house near the middle of campus. Looking at them, Yugi was amazed. Tea was wearing a slinky shiny blue gown he'd never seen before, and for some reason Tristan, who was standing just behind her in a slightly awkward suit, couldn't seem to talk.
"Wow, Tea," Yugi said in admiration as they walked closer. She blushed. Kaiba, standing slightly to one side, wearing a long black coat over his pristine formalwear, grimaced, just slightly, but there was no malice in it. Instead, he looked preoccupied, even more distant than usual, but as Yugi and Yami joined the group, he surprised them all by turning and joining into the conversation with a small smile.
Even Joey, standing near Tristan with Wakaba clinging to one arm, looked marginally less scruffy than usual, his blond hair combed and tamed into sleek submission, the honey color of Wakaba's dress making his eyes glow.
Tea looked at her watch. "We've got to go," she announced. "Touga said that he'd arranged a ride for us, and it should be at the front gate in a few minutes." Chatting happily, they walked together to meet their ride.
While walking along, Yami spotted a rose bush growing near the path and veered towards it, picking out a rose freshly bloomed, and brought it back, holding it out to Yugi with a smile.
The smaller boy looked at questioningly, and Yami sighed and tucked into the boys lapel, rewarded by one of his smaller half's open smiles.
The rose, soft yellow petals rimmed in deep red, glowed in the dying sunlight.
* * *
Music washed over him, sweet, sad, joyful, aching. The round room was filled with silent people, and the music, clear and sweet, swept over them in flooding crescendos and aching phrases. Every now and again, a particularly heart-wrenchingly beautiful note or tone would sound, and Yami would clasp his hands into fists, only relaxing when the moment had passed. He looked around to see how the others were reacting. Tea and Tristan were sitting close together, her dress wrinkling against his pant leg, and their hands, which, last time he'd looked, were laid in their laps, were now firmly clasped together, the fingers entwining with each other; Tristan's long, strong fingers tenderly playing with Tea's small slim ones, while their eyes remained front, watching Miki play.
He smiled, and looked past them to where Joey sat with his arm around Wakaba, her gleaming chocolate brown hair catching the warm blue light of the stage. Her head fit perfectly on his shoulder, and he rested his head on hers, the crook of his neck and jaw cushioned by her shining hair. Behind them, Kaiba sat with President Touga, two intimidating, seductive presences. His blue eyes were steadily set at a level just higher than Joey's bent golden head, but he held himself even stiffer than usual. Although, Yami thought, that could have been from the near presence of Arisugawa Jury, a blazing, cold beauty in her deep red silk gown.
A shift at his right caused him to look over at Yugi, who sat next to him, gazing intently at the stage. The blue light was caught in his clear violet eyes, making them darker and deeper than before, and he leaned forward to catch every note as it slipped from under the fingers of the boy on the stage.
Yami's heart tripped. He turned his eyes back to the stage, the music and the warm blue light forgotten in a moment of freezing anguish.
He had felt enraptured attention straining through his mind and body; an infatuated fascination had seized him, and as it slid away again, he had known it wasn't himself feeling it.
It was Yugi.
He sat in solitude for the rest of the performance, the clean sweeping music no longer marking any hold on him, his thoughts deep inside himself, swirling in agonized patterns reminiscent of last nights insomnia. No wonder Yugi had been edging away from him in their link---in that one moment of unguarded emotion, Yami had seen---felt---the entire, soul-wrenching truth, and as they stood to applaud the shyly blushing Miki, numbness washed through him. He didn't feel his hands as they mechanically hit, didn't see the glow Yugi's violet eyes held---and yet he was immediately and painfully aware, afterwards, in an adjoining room where they were served champagne and small crackers, that the rose he had handed to Yugi earlier from the evening was now gone from the lapel he had placed it in---was being offered, with a trembling heart, to the suddenly pale Miki.
His clear blue eyes widened as he turned to see the rose before him, and as they traveled from the soft, glowing petals to the delicate hand that held it, his cheeks went from pale to faintly blushed, and finally back to a normal color. His body relaxed, and he smiled at Yugi, whose mind swirled in joy.
Yami turned away, only to be confronted with an arrogant upwards flick of a silky red brow.
"You look as though you weren't enjoying yourself," Touga commented, a champagne flute grasped gracefully in one long-fingered hand. Yami had no answer, and stared back levelly.
The taller boy shrugged, and their growing silence flooded the space between them, until suddenly he stiffened, his eyes widening for a second before returning to their usual laconic state. Yami looked around with interest, trying to think what could dent the solid grace of the President's bearing---but he saw only the entrance of Utena, the girl-prince, and Himemiya Anthy.
Utena moved with an easy grace through the throngs of people, her large clear eyes smiling on Miki, and she forced her way to his side, thumping his shoulder with a casual strength. The delicate boy winced a little, and Yami watched as he laughed, and talked with Utena, Himemiya---and Yugi.
"Excuse me," he heard Touga say, as he moved smoothly past towards the small clump of people. Yami found himself standing alone, with a half empty glass of sparkling wine. He turned and put the glass down on a windowsill, stared at his reflection for a long second, then straightened and walked out of the room, into the rose-scented night.
* * *
Laughing and talking loudly, the group moved slowly through the front door and into the warmly lit hallway. They looked behind expectantly, until a flushed Joey ran up, his tie loose and flapping on his chest.
Tea's eyebrow arched. "That was a pretty intense goodnight, there, Joey," she commented, looking at his slightly disheveled state. "You ARE going to see her again tomorrow, you know."
He grinned easily and held up his hands in defense. "Hey, I can't help it. She finds me irresistible."
"And who wouldn't?" Tea said dryly, but a smile quirked around her mouth. She didn't know where this whole Joey and Wakaba thing was going, but it was good to see him enjoying himself for once, instead of mooning over Kaiba.
She glanced at the taller boy, who hadn't moved at all during the conversation except to hang his coat on a hook by a large mirror. She could see him in the reflection as he shook out of the second arm and hung the coat carefully, and then---she blinked, and it was gone, he turned around and glared at them all before wishing them a curt goodnight.
She shook her head slightly. She must have been mistaken.
After all, Seto Kaiba didn't believe in tears.
She glanced around. Tristan was ragging on Joey, but she could see the wide grin on his face. He was as delighted by this turn of events as she was, adding extra emphasis to his headlock as he tackled Joey. They went down with a thud and began wrestling on the floor as Yugi and Miki came in.
Her cousin looked down curiously, but shrugged and looked back up at her. She smiled, and applauded softly.
"That was a wonderful concert Miki," she said, and sighed happily. "I'm so glad we came here! What a great place Ohtori is. It's way better than anything we would have done in Domino."
He started, and relaxed, and she frowned a bit. Miki had always been a little nervous, but he seemed tenser now than she'd ever seen him before. He ran a hand through his hair and smiled, before stepping over Joey and Tristan and offering her his arm.
As they walked away, Yugi bent down and tried to pry Tristan away from Joey, laughing at their antics.
"Come on, guys," he said. "It's really late. Can't this wait until tomorrow?"
Joey glared at his friend. "Of course not. You know he's too stupid to remember anything for more than three seconds unless I beat it into that pointy head of his."
"You little-" and they were off. Yugi sighed, and stepped carefully over them towards the stairs, his room, and sleep.
In his room, he wondered idly what had happened to Yami, and went to the spirit's room. Poking his head around the doorway, he looked around the silent room.
"Yami?"
Opening the door a little wider, he looked into the other room, but didn't see a sign of Yami anywhere. He shrugged, and went back into his room, pausing in front of his mirror, smiling to himself.
A knock sounded on his door, and he jumped.
It came again, soft and hesitant, and he moved to the door to open it.
A rush of piano notes glittered past him, he saw blue swirling towards him, and then there was Miki, standing in the hall, looking painfully self-conscious.
Yugi blinked, and stared for a second, his heart thudding and making his head spin. The other boy fidgeted awkwardly.
"I just thought I'd..." He trailed off, putting one hand behind his head, and frowned to himself. He'd had something to say, but he couldn't remember what, exactly, it was, now that he was standing here with Yugi looking at him expectantly. He tried again. "I was thinking..."
They looked at each other, and he felt himself break.
"I should go," he said, softly, but when he tried to turn away, he found he couldn't do it, couldn't move one foot before the other, and when he looked back, and met Yugi's wide eyes, he found he didn't want to after all.
He smiled.
"Do you mind if I come in for a second?" he said.
* * *
Having finally escaped the clutches of Tristan, Joey stumbled into his room, grinning from ear to ear, his hair flopping crazily over his face. He went to the dresser and unbuttoned his shirt, laying it carelessly on the top of the polished wood when he bent to untie his shoes.
He looked back up into the mirror, and jumped, his heart suddenly racing.
"You looked pretty happy tonight, mutt," Kaiba said from his position, leaning lazily on the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest and his long legs stretching across the door to the opposite post.
Joey turned, feeling suddenly, acutely conscious of his shirtless chest as he met Kaiba's calm, arrogant gaze. He blushed hotly, and immediately was angry for blushing, so he looked sharply away, gathering a towel and his toothbrush. His gaze fell on his shirt, piled in a pool of soft fabric against the mirror.
"What's it to you," he muttered. Kaiba's eyebrow came up.
"What's it to me? Pup, don't you know I'm always looking for your well-being?" The rough voice mocked him---he burned, his flush spreading across the back of his neck, under the shaggy-smooth hair that fell loosely against his now warm skin.
"After all," Kaiba went on, "it's not as though I can depend on you to make the right decisions---or any at all, for that matter---and do you know how hard it is to keep an eye on a scraggy mutt like you? Maybe I should invest in one of those shock collars for you...I really shouldn't let you out to bother the people in the area."
Joey looked up, anger flaring in his face, but didn't meet the icy eyes that watched him so coolly. He directed his remarks to the empty area just in front of and to the left of Kaiba's face.
"Ya know, if I'm so below your notice, you might as well leave me alone, Kaiba. You never know...maybe someone else has adopted me. I'm not your puppy anymore."
He didn't see Kaiba's eyes shift uncomfortably.
He took a better grip on his towel, and moved to the door---but wasn't really surprised when an arm came up, barring the doorway and blocking him as he tried to go past.
He looked down into the hall.
"Let me go, Kaiba."
The taller boy leaned down arrogantly and hissed in his ear, warm breath attacking his neck.
"Are you trying to make me jealous, Pup?"
A flush, and then Joey paled, his eyes shifting wildly as he looked straight ahead. He felt himself pressing against the arm that held him in, felt the warm breath on his ear and couldn't push past.
"Is that it?" Kaiba continued. Was that---panic? In his voice? Before he had time to wander, Kaiba had moved his arm, grabbed him by the shoulders, shoved him into the opposite doorpost so hard he felt it sting solidly between his shoulder blades.
They stood, tense, faces inches apart, and now he could see that the blue eyes weren't cold at all; they were blazing hotly with anger. Vaguely, he realized that he was seeing Kaiba lose control, and he wondered what it meant, when such iron self-control was tossed aside as was now happening, but then Kaiba pushed his face right up to Joey's.
"You are mine, mutt. No one else's."
He looked up, into the heated---feverish---eyes, and felt his own harden. He reached up to push Kaiba away, pushed him back and took a step before Kaiba recovered, grabbed him by the shoulder nearest him, and he was spun, shoved up against the doorpost again and Kaiba moved forward quickly, sharply---his hands entwined in the mass of golden hair---crushed his lips to Joey's.
His head spun, stars exploded from the pain in his back and the surprise at the kiss, taken aback by its violence, by what it meant. His heart thudded hard against his bare chest, he could feel the buttons of Kaiba's shirt pressing into his skin, could feel, as he brought his hands up to the taller boy's back, the muscles working underneath the smooth shirt. He flattened his hands across Kaiba's back, pulling him closer, closer---
Kaiba pulled away, looked at the flush and the fevered eyes, ran a hand quickly down the smooth bare chest and watched with interest the goose bumps that appeared on Joey's arms. He brought his forehead to Joey's, silky brown hair mixing with shaggy golden, grasped the back of the other boy's head.
"Mine."
He pushed away, and walked down the hall towards his own room, the hallway swirling slightly around him. His pulse was thundering, hot blood being pushed frantically through his body, but he walked calmly away, leaving Joey limp against the doorway, with the towel and toothbrush lying forgotten on the floor.
* * *
"So what's up?" Yugi asked as Miki came into the room. The other boy hesitated, looking down at the floor, his long lashes standing out against his pale skin. He sat on the bed, and shrugged.
"I'm not really sure," he said, and smiled shyly at Yugi, who crossed the room and sat cross-legged on the bed, bouncing slightly and watching him with interest.
He looked away, a flush beginning to spread over his cheeks. "I just wanted to talk, I guess." Yugi nodded, and sat watching the color fade slowly from Miki's cheeks. The silence deepened, and he shifted, accidentally brushing against Miki's hand as it lay on the soft comforter.
A glissando of notes, shivering up and down the scale.
Miki's head jerked up, and he looked at Yugi piercingly. The wide violet eyes enthralled him---he longed to touch such purity, such innocence. Unknowing, he reached out and almost touched the pale face next to him.
The heat of Miki's slim hand warmed his skin---he sat motionless, his heart beating wildly, his eyes widening.
He didn't notice when Yami opened the door between their rooms and stepped inside.
The spirit stopped dead, apologetic words souring on his tongue as he watched Miki reach to Yugi, watched Yugi's eyes warm, and then blaze. He clutched his chest as Yugi's heart thudded painfully faster and faster. He watched Miki steel himself, felt the agonizing slowness as their heads came closer together, felt Yugi's abandon as Miki closed his eyes and gently brought his lips down---so soft---on to his.
Yami felt sick, numb, heavy as the caution fled from Yugi's mind and he felt the weight of the lightly brushing emotions that ran through and across the smaller boys soul. He turned and moved to the door, leaning heavily against the frame as his eyes burned.
If he hadn't known better, he might have thought he was crying.
* * *
Aria: Wow, that took a while to write! I knew where I wanted it to end up...but it took a long time to get there! How did you guys like it? *looks around*
Yugi: *starry eyed* Huh?
Yami: Yugi? Aibou?
Joey: I...uh...*shifty eyes*
Kaiba: *practically purring* I told you not to trifle with me...
Aria: Oh, you're not in the clear yet, Kaiba.
Kaiba: What?!?
Yami: Aria...!
Aria: *shifty eyes* What?
Yami: *confers with Kaiba, they nod and step towards Aria*
Aria: Now boys...
Touga: *steps in front of them...sexily* Play nice, boys.
Yami/Kaiba: *growl, and slink away*
Aria: *starry eyed* Thanks, Touga...
Touga: *smiles...sexily*
Aria: ...Uh, yeah. So, please, PLEASE read and review! I need motivation to finish this, so I can concentrate on my other fics (shameless plug for Persuasion). Cheers! *glances at Yami and Kaiba, and steps back slowly* Now, boys...
Kaiba: It's been a month, you twit.
Aria: *shrugs* Hey, I've been busy, Kaiba. And this was a particularly eventful one. But, leaving that behind for now, I'm back with another *warning: FLUFFY* chapter of Secrets...yay, piano music and fluff. And Yami angst!
Yami: *glares*
Aria: Sorry, Yami, but let's face it...you are an angsty character.
Yami: *starts to say something, then thinks about it and nods and shrugs*
Yugi: *starry eyes* Piano music...?
Aria: Oh, yes. You will enjoy this chapter, Yugi. Even if Yami doesn't. And he REALLY won't.
Yami: I hate you.
Aria: You do NOW...but later...anyway, people don't want to read these little dialogues, they want to read the story! I hope...so, in light of that...
Bakura: *winces* MUST you use "light"?
Aria: Sorry. Um, because of that, we need to get started! So, I need someone to do the disclaimer---and I have just the person in mind! So, Lorrie, if you will...
Lorrie: *blinks* Huh? What am I doing here?
Aria: Read this.
Lorrie: Um...okay...this is the disclaimer. In other words, Aria doesn't own Yu-Gi-Oh! or Revolutionary Girl Utena, although if anyone knows a way she can meet Touga...
Aria: *blushes and snatches the paper away* Um, okay, that's great, thanks. And for your troubles...*snaps fingers* *Darcy appears*
Darcy: *bewildered, but going with it* Back again, eh?
Lorrie: *simpers*
Aria: Yeah. Um, have fun!
Lorrie: *is escorted away by Darcy, who starts to profess his undying love for her*
Aria: Um. Also, here's a shameless plug for my new story, Persuasion, which is all about Kaiba and Joey. Because I LOVE them. And they love each other. And it makes me happy.
Everyone: *glares*
Aria: Um, yeah, so, here goes...
* * *
SECRETS OF A ROSE
Chapter Six: Concert
"I can't believe we're going to this concert!" Yugi said as he struggled with his dress shirt before a mirror, glancing nervously at his dark-blue dress pants and still-damp hair. "This is a fantastic opportunity. Do you know the kind of people who GO to these things?"
Yami, in the adjoining room, brushed a few long dark hairs off his jacket before swinging it on and straightening it over his shoulders, and replied through the open door.
"Calm down, Yugi. We'll all be there, as well as the Student Council members. I know this is an important concert, but try not to get too worked up about it." He ran pale fingers through his wild hair, and his dark eyes gazed at his reflection impassively. After his night of sleepless wanderings, he had dozed for a while and woken with bleary eyes and a foul temper. The last thing he wanted to do right now was to go and listen to Miki Kaoru play the piano...but Yugi was so excited about it. And after all, he smiled wryly; a little socializing never did any harm.
He cast a last critical eye at the mirror, taking in the slim black dress pants, the silvery shirt, the well-cut jacket. His eyes burned feverishly with lack of sleep, and he rubbed them hard to clear them before going into Yugi's room.
The smaller boy was fussing with his shirt, tucking it into the black pants. He glanced back at the spirit, and smiled. "I'll be ready in just a second," he promised, and reached for a bottle of cologne.
Yami sat on the bed and waited, watching with interest the small, quick hands running through the thick wild hair, the way the smooth material of his deep blue shirt tugged against his flat shoulder blades and pulled at the small of his back, how the first two buttons were undone so that the neck of the shirt fell slightly open, how the pale skin of his neck shone through. Yugi gave himself a last glance, then turned to face Yami with a worried expression.
"How do I look?"
Yami got up, and walked around his smaller half with a mock-serious expression, nodding solemnly and muttering to himself. He stopped in front of the smaller boy and looked at him with a grim expression.
For a second Yugi paled, then he laughed and swung at Yami good-naturedly. "Good," he said. "Let's go meet up with the others."
* * *
They walked through rose-scented evening air, talking and laughing together, and Yami was content, the fears of the sleepless night before vanishing under the warmth of Yugi's smile. They were one, inseparable. He would never doubt their bond again.
The others were waiting for them at the entrance to the glass house near the middle of campus. Looking at them, Yugi was amazed. Tea was wearing a slinky shiny blue gown he'd never seen before, and for some reason Tristan, who was standing just behind her in a slightly awkward suit, couldn't seem to talk.
"Wow, Tea," Yugi said in admiration as they walked closer. She blushed. Kaiba, standing slightly to one side, wearing a long black coat over his pristine formalwear, grimaced, just slightly, but there was no malice in it. Instead, he looked preoccupied, even more distant than usual, but as Yugi and Yami joined the group, he surprised them all by turning and joining into the conversation with a small smile.
Even Joey, standing near Tristan with Wakaba clinging to one arm, looked marginally less scruffy than usual, his blond hair combed and tamed into sleek submission, the honey color of Wakaba's dress making his eyes glow.
Tea looked at her watch. "We've got to go," she announced. "Touga said that he'd arranged a ride for us, and it should be at the front gate in a few minutes." Chatting happily, they walked together to meet their ride.
While walking along, Yami spotted a rose bush growing near the path and veered towards it, picking out a rose freshly bloomed, and brought it back, holding it out to Yugi with a smile.
The smaller boy looked at questioningly, and Yami sighed and tucked into the boys lapel, rewarded by one of his smaller half's open smiles.
The rose, soft yellow petals rimmed in deep red, glowed in the dying sunlight.
* * *
Music washed over him, sweet, sad, joyful, aching. The round room was filled with silent people, and the music, clear and sweet, swept over them in flooding crescendos and aching phrases. Every now and again, a particularly heart-wrenchingly beautiful note or tone would sound, and Yami would clasp his hands into fists, only relaxing when the moment had passed. He looked around to see how the others were reacting. Tea and Tristan were sitting close together, her dress wrinkling against his pant leg, and their hands, which, last time he'd looked, were laid in their laps, were now firmly clasped together, the fingers entwining with each other; Tristan's long, strong fingers tenderly playing with Tea's small slim ones, while their eyes remained front, watching Miki play.
He smiled, and looked past them to where Joey sat with his arm around Wakaba, her gleaming chocolate brown hair catching the warm blue light of the stage. Her head fit perfectly on his shoulder, and he rested his head on hers, the crook of his neck and jaw cushioned by her shining hair. Behind them, Kaiba sat with President Touga, two intimidating, seductive presences. His blue eyes were steadily set at a level just higher than Joey's bent golden head, but he held himself even stiffer than usual. Although, Yami thought, that could have been from the near presence of Arisugawa Jury, a blazing, cold beauty in her deep red silk gown.
A shift at his right caused him to look over at Yugi, who sat next to him, gazing intently at the stage. The blue light was caught in his clear violet eyes, making them darker and deeper than before, and he leaned forward to catch every note as it slipped from under the fingers of the boy on the stage.
Yami's heart tripped. He turned his eyes back to the stage, the music and the warm blue light forgotten in a moment of freezing anguish.
He had felt enraptured attention straining through his mind and body; an infatuated fascination had seized him, and as it slid away again, he had known it wasn't himself feeling it.
It was Yugi.
He sat in solitude for the rest of the performance, the clean sweeping music no longer marking any hold on him, his thoughts deep inside himself, swirling in agonized patterns reminiscent of last nights insomnia. No wonder Yugi had been edging away from him in their link---in that one moment of unguarded emotion, Yami had seen---felt---the entire, soul-wrenching truth, and as they stood to applaud the shyly blushing Miki, numbness washed through him. He didn't feel his hands as they mechanically hit, didn't see the glow Yugi's violet eyes held---and yet he was immediately and painfully aware, afterwards, in an adjoining room where they were served champagne and small crackers, that the rose he had handed to Yugi earlier from the evening was now gone from the lapel he had placed it in---was being offered, with a trembling heart, to the suddenly pale Miki.
His clear blue eyes widened as he turned to see the rose before him, and as they traveled from the soft, glowing petals to the delicate hand that held it, his cheeks went from pale to faintly blushed, and finally back to a normal color. His body relaxed, and he smiled at Yugi, whose mind swirled in joy.
Yami turned away, only to be confronted with an arrogant upwards flick of a silky red brow.
"You look as though you weren't enjoying yourself," Touga commented, a champagne flute grasped gracefully in one long-fingered hand. Yami had no answer, and stared back levelly.
The taller boy shrugged, and their growing silence flooded the space between them, until suddenly he stiffened, his eyes widening for a second before returning to their usual laconic state. Yami looked around with interest, trying to think what could dent the solid grace of the President's bearing---but he saw only the entrance of Utena, the girl-prince, and Himemiya Anthy.
Utena moved with an easy grace through the throngs of people, her large clear eyes smiling on Miki, and she forced her way to his side, thumping his shoulder with a casual strength. The delicate boy winced a little, and Yami watched as he laughed, and talked with Utena, Himemiya---and Yugi.
"Excuse me," he heard Touga say, as he moved smoothly past towards the small clump of people. Yami found himself standing alone, with a half empty glass of sparkling wine. He turned and put the glass down on a windowsill, stared at his reflection for a long second, then straightened and walked out of the room, into the rose-scented night.
* * *
Laughing and talking loudly, the group moved slowly through the front door and into the warmly lit hallway. They looked behind expectantly, until a flushed Joey ran up, his tie loose and flapping on his chest.
Tea's eyebrow arched. "That was a pretty intense goodnight, there, Joey," she commented, looking at his slightly disheveled state. "You ARE going to see her again tomorrow, you know."
He grinned easily and held up his hands in defense. "Hey, I can't help it. She finds me irresistible."
"And who wouldn't?" Tea said dryly, but a smile quirked around her mouth. She didn't know where this whole Joey and Wakaba thing was going, but it was good to see him enjoying himself for once, instead of mooning over Kaiba.
She glanced at the taller boy, who hadn't moved at all during the conversation except to hang his coat on a hook by a large mirror. She could see him in the reflection as he shook out of the second arm and hung the coat carefully, and then---she blinked, and it was gone, he turned around and glared at them all before wishing them a curt goodnight.
She shook her head slightly. She must have been mistaken.
After all, Seto Kaiba didn't believe in tears.
She glanced around. Tristan was ragging on Joey, but she could see the wide grin on his face. He was as delighted by this turn of events as she was, adding extra emphasis to his headlock as he tackled Joey. They went down with a thud and began wrestling on the floor as Yugi and Miki came in.
Her cousin looked down curiously, but shrugged and looked back up at her. She smiled, and applauded softly.
"That was a wonderful concert Miki," she said, and sighed happily. "I'm so glad we came here! What a great place Ohtori is. It's way better than anything we would have done in Domino."
He started, and relaxed, and she frowned a bit. Miki had always been a little nervous, but he seemed tenser now than she'd ever seen him before. He ran a hand through his hair and smiled, before stepping over Joey and Tristan and offering her his arm.
As they walked away, Yugi bent down and tried to pry Tristan away from Joey, laughing at their antics.
"Come on, guys," he said. "It's really late. Can't this wait until tomorrow?"
Joey glared at his friend. "Of course not. You know he's too stupid to remember anything for more than three seconds unless I beat it into that pointy head of his."
"You little-" and they were off. Yugi sighed, and stepped carefully over them towards the stairs, his room, and sleep.
In his room, he wondered idly what had happened to Yami, and went to the spirit's room. Poking his head around the doorway, he looked around the silent room.
"Yami?"
Opening the door a little wider, he looked into the other room, but didn't see a sign of Yami anywhere. He shrugged, and went back into his room, pausing in front of his mirror, smiling to himself.
A knock sounded on his door, and he jumped.
It came again, soft and hesitant, and he moved to the door to open it.
A rush of piano notes glittered past him, he saw blue swirling towards him, and then there was Miki, standing in the hall, looking painfully self-conscious.
Yugi blinked, and stared for a second, his heart thudding and making his head spin. The other boy fidgeted awkwardly.
"I just thought I'd..." He trailed off, putting one hand behind his head, and frowned to himself. He'd had something to say, but he couldn't remember what, exactly, it was, now that he was standing here with Yugi looking at him expectantly. He tried again. "I was thinking..."
They looked at each other, and he felt himself break.
"I should go," he said, softly, but when he tried to turn away, he found he couldn't do it, couldn't move one foot before the other, and when he looked back, and met Yugi's wide eyes, he found he didn't want to after all.
He smiled.
"Do you mind if I come in for a second?" he said.
* * *
Having finally escaped the clutches of Tristan, Joey stumbled into his room, grinning from ear to ear, his hair flopping crazily over his face. He went to the dresser and unbuttoned his shirt, laying it carelessly on the top of the polished wood when he bent to untie his shoes.
He looked back up into the mirror, and jumped, his heart suddenly racing.
"You looked pretty happy tonight, mutt," Kaiba said from his position, leaning lazily on the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest and his long legs stretching across the door to the opposite post.
Joey turned, feeling suddenly, acutely conscious of his shirtless chest as he met Kaiba's calm, arrogant gaze. He blushed hotly, and immediately was angry for blushing, so he looked sharply away, gathering a towel and his toothbrush. His gaze fell on his shirt, piled in a pool of soft fabric against the mirror.
"What's it to you," he muttered. Kaiba's eyebrow came up.
"What's it to me? Pup, don't you know I'm always looking for your well-being?" The rough voice mocked him---he burned, his flush spreading across the back of his neck, under the shaggy-smooth hair that fell loosely against his now warm skin.
"After all," Kaiba went on, "it's not as though I can depend on you to make the right decisions---or any at all, for that matter---and do you know how hard it is to keep an eye on a scraggy mutt like you? Maybe I should invest in one of those shock collars for you...I really shouldn't let you out to bother the people in the area."
Joey looked up, anger flaring in his face, but didn't meet the icy eyes that watched him so coolly. He directed his remarks to the empty area just in front of and to the left of Kaiba's face.
"Ya know, if I'm so below your notice, you might as well leave me alone, Kaiba. You never know...maybe someone else has adopted me. I'm not your puppy anymore."
He didn't see Kaiba's eyes shift uncomfortably.
He took a better grip on his towel, and moved to the door---but wasn't really surprised when an arm came up, barring the doorway and blocking him as he tried to go past.
He looked down into the hall.
"Let me go, Kaiba."
The taller boy leaned down arrogantly and hissed in his ear, warm breath attacking his neck.
"Are you trying to make me jealous, Pup?"
A flush, and then Joey paled, his eyes shifting wildly as he looked straight ahead. He felt himself pressing against the arm that held him in, felt the warm breath on his ear and couldn't push past.
"Is that it?" Kaiba continued. Was that---panic? In his voice? Before he had time to wander, Kaiba had moved his arm, grabbed him by the shoulders, shoved him into the opposite doorpost so hard he felt it sting solidly between his shoulder blades.
They stood, tense, faces inches apart, and now he could see that the blue eyes weren't cold at all; they were blazing hotly with anger. Vaguely, he realized that he was seeing Kaiba lose control, and he wondered what it meant, when such iron self-control was tossed aside as was now happening, but then Kaiba pushed his face right up to Joey's.
"You are mine, mutt. No one else's."
He looked up, into the heated---feverish---eyes, and felt his own harden. He reached up to push Kaiba away, pushed him back and took a step before Kaiba recovered, grabbed him by the shoulder nearest him, and he was spun, shoved up against the doorpost again and Kaiba moved forward quickly, sharply---his hands entwined in the mass of golden hair---crushed his lips to Joey's.
His head spun, stars exploded from the pain in his back and the surprise at the kiss, taken aback by its violence, by what it meant. His heart thudded hard against his bare chest, he could feel the buttons of Kaiba's shirt pressing into his skin, could feel, as he brought his hands up to the taller boy's back, the muscles working underneath the smooth shirt. He flattened his hands across Kaiba's back, pulling him closer, closer---
Kaiba pulled away, looked at the flush and the fevered eyes, ran a hand quickly down the smooth bare chest and watched with interest the goose bumps that appeared on Joey's arms. He brought his forehead to Joey's, silky brown hair mixing with shaggy golden, grasped the back of the other boy's head.
"Mine."
He pushed away, and walked down the hall towards his own room, the hallway swirling slightly around him. His pulse was thundering, hot blood being pushed frantically through his body, but he walked calmly away, leaving Joey limp against the doorway, with the towel and toothbrush lying forgotten on the floor.
* * *
"So what's up?" Yugi asked as Miki came into the room. The other boy hesitated, looking down at the floor, his long lashes standing out against his pale skin. He sat on the bed, and shrugged.
"I'm not really sure," he said, and smiled shyly at Yugi, who crossed the room and sat cross-legged on the bed, bouncing slightly and watching him with interest.
He looked away, a flush beginning to spread over his cheeks. "I just wanted to talk, I guess." Yugi nodded, and sat watching the color fade slowly from Miki's cheeks. The silence deepened, and he shifted, accidentally brushing against Miki's hand as it lay on the soft comforter.
A glissando of notes, shivering up and down the scale.
Miki's head jerked up, and he looked at Yugi piercingly. The wide violet eyes enthralled him---he longed to touch such purity, such innocence. Unknowing, he reached out and almost touched the pale face next to him.
The heat of Miki's slim hand warmed his skin---he sat motionless, his heart beating wildly, his eyes widening.
He didn't notice when Yami opened the door between their rooms and stepped inside.
The spirit stopped dead, apologetic words souring on his tongue as he watched Miki reach to Yugi, watched Yugi's eyes warm, and then blaze. He clutched his chest as Yugi's heart thudded painfully faster and faster. He watched Miki steel himself, felt the agonizing slowness as their heads came closer together, felt Yugi's abandon as Miki closed his eyes and gently brought his lips down---so soft---on to his.
Yami felt sick, numb, heavy as the caution fled from Yugi's mind and he felt the weight of the lightly brushing emotions that ran through and across the smaller boys soul. He turned and moved to the door, leaning heavily against the frame as his eyes burned.
If he hadn't known better, he might have thought he was crying.
* * *
Aria: Wow, that took a while to write! I knew where I wanted it to end up...but it took a long time to get there! How did you guys like it? *looks around*
Yugi: *starry eyed* Huh?
Yami: Yugi? Aibou?
Joey: I...uh...*shifty eyes*
Kaiba: *practically purring* I told you not to trifle with me...
Aria: Oh, you're not in the clear yet, Kaiba.
Kaiba: What?!?
Yami: Aria...!
Aria: *shifty eyes* What?
Yami: *confers with Kaiba, they nod and step towards Aria*
Aria: Now boys...
Touga: *steps in front of them...sexily* Play nice, boys.
Yami/Kaiba: *growl, and slink away*
Aria: *starry eyed* Thanks, Touga...
Touga: *smiles...sexily*
Aria: ...Uh, yeah. So, please, PLEASE read and review! I need motivation to finish this, so I can concentrate on my other fics (shameless plug for Persuasion). Cheers! *glances at Yami and Kaiba, and steps back slowly* Now, boys...