Rebirth
by Ceresi

Rating: R

WARNING: There are spoilers for the HP books in here. I know, it's crazy. Also, slash, and one racy little R scene. ALSO. This is still, for all intents and purposes, a rough draft. I've had it betaed and edited it several times myself, but I'm working on a sequal, and some changes might be necessary.

Want more notes? See Chapter One.

***

"I can't believe it's been a whole year since ya played Duel Monsters, Kaiba."

"I've had more important things to do than play games," Seto said dryly. "I suppose you and Yugi get in a game every hour."

Joey snorted. "Nah, he spends all his time duelin' Yami. I just hang around by the phone, waitin' for you to call."

"Yeah, right." Mokuba darted forward, walking on Seto's other side. "Like you could hold still that long."

"I'll have you know I'm a master at holdin' still."

"We all need our accomplishments," Seto murmured. "I guess you'll take what you can get."

Joey threw his head back in a laugh, and Mokuba grinned appreciatively. They reached the end of the hallway, stopped outside of a door with a large keypad. Mokuba punched in the code.

"How did you know about this place, anyway?" Seto asked Joey. "You don't have the code for this level."

"Yeah, what's up with that? Ya don't trust me with your equipment?"

"Hardly," Seto said. "It's too sturdy for you to break -- what else is there to worry about?"

Joey looked mock-sullen. "Very funny."

Mokuba tossed a grin over his shoulder. "He heard about it from Mrs. Kamazaki," he said. When Seto's eyebrows shot up, he added, "She was worried because you hadn't used the equipment in so long. She says it's not healthy to be all work and no play."

"And so the two of you have decided to drag me down here and torment me with your bad dueling?"

"Hey, big brother, I'm not that bad," Mokuba chided. "You taught me, after all."

Seto smirked. "True."

"And I'll beat ya one of these days," Joey drawled, so fondly there was no doubt that he hadn't a hope in the world. Mokuba waited for the door to slide open and ran ahead, flicking on the lights and the computer equipment.

Seto lifted a small holographic projector -- it was bulkier than the newest model, but he'd never been fond of the new version, anyway, developed as it was by underlings and idiots.

Joey leaned against the wall, reached out with one foot to nudge Seto in the shin. "You all right, Seto?"

Seto kicked his shoe away. "Don't mess up my clothes," he ordered.

"Mokuba's doin' better."

Seto lifted his head to inspect his little brother. He was flitting from computer to computer, tweaking the equipment to make it run better. He was a genius when it came to computers, just like him -- perhaps if Seto let Mokuba design the new hologram projectors, he wouldn't constantly find fault with them. Mokuba would get it right.

"He is," Seto agreed. He cleared his throat and set the projector aside. "Thank you for talking to him."

"Didn't say anythin' you wouldn't've." Joey pushed off the wall and followed Seto as he meandered to Mokuba's side. "I'm gonna beat ya, ya know."

"Dream on, puppy."

Mokuba snorted at the pet name and backed away from the keyboard. "It should work," he said. "It's been so long since I messed with this system . . . you know, Seto, if you routed the thirty cluster stuff through the seventh, it'd save a lot of time."

Seto thought about it, nodded. "I'll bring it up in the next meeting."

"Maybe I'll go with you," Mokuba said. "Just to make sure. And because, it'll be interesting." He was watching the monitor and it's readouts with a little too much attention. His ears were red.

"Interesting isn't the right word," Seto said dryly. "But yes, you can come. Are you done with the check ups?"

Mokuba grinned. "All's green," he said, flipping a switch. The screens died as the projectors came to life, rainbows flashing in the air as they calibrated themselves. "At least Mrs. Kamazaki's kept it dust-free down here."

"One bright point," Seto agreed. "Which of you will I beat first?"

"Mokuba," Joey said, as Mokuba said, "Joey." They exchanged glances. "Ya wanna flip for it?"

"You'll rig it!"

"How do ya rig a coin toss?"

"You'd find a way."

"Quickly, if you would," Seto said, amused.

"I ain't goin' first," Joey insisted. "A year's worth of pent-up dueling frustration? Yeah, right. He likes you more than me, you go."

"Sure he does," Mokuba snorted, rolling his eyes. "You go. You'll lose anyway, this way you'll have a good excuse."

Seto smirked and Joey laughed. "You're mean to me, kid."

"Admitting defeat?" Mokuba challenged. A smile was threatening to cross his face -- he liked bickering with Joey as much as Seto did.

"Yes, he is," Seto said. "I'm dueling you, Joey." When Joey looked wildly indignant, Seto smirked. "It won't be too bad. I promise to leave you with some pride."

"Heard that before," Joey mumbled.

"I'm gonna sit over here," Mokuba said, plopping himself down in one of the computer chairs. It was a swively one; he pushed off the wall and went flying across the room. "Whooo!"

Seto leaned close to Joey. "Loser plays slave for an hour," he murmured.

Joey's grin was downright scandalous. His eyes trailed down the length of Seto's black-clad form. "You're on."

"Hey, lovebirds!" Mokuba shouted. He kicked off of another wall and went flying again. "Stop flirting and start dueling!"

Seto rolled his eyes. Joey laughed, brushed a kiss over his lips, and said, "Like the boy says, Kaiba. Let's go."

***

A/N: The end! Mostly. There is, of course, the companion fic, the prequal, and the sequal to be written.

I've been really terrible about responding to reviews and updating regularly, mostly because this is the very first long!fic I've ever posted, and I've had it on my computer for so long it's easy to forget about. And then there are the other fics I've been working on, and the website, and a dozen other excuses, none of which ya'll care about. ;)

To Morghann: I'm working on the Egypt story now. Technically, it and Rebirth are two parts of the same fic, which really should be merged. I might do it eventually. I'm glad you liked it, anyway, even if the plot did sort of fall by the wayside.

To all ya'll: Can I just say you all rock? I'd try to find words, but I might cry. I was incredibly flattered everytime that someone said Seto, Mokuba, Joey, Mai, and Tristan were IC, and I'm tremendously glad that you all liked the angst and plot (what little there was). *hugs*

Thanks again! And see you soon!