~chapter 15!

"Bakuraaaaaaaa! Where are you?! It's morning and Iiiiiiii'm hungry!"

Bakura's eyes opened slowly and he nearly groaned. "Mou, Mokuba-kun..." he sighed softly, burying his face in Kaiba's chest without thinking.

Kaiba blinked awake and pulled back from Bakura abruptly.

"Aa! Sorry!," the boy grimaced, scrambling to his feet.

Kaiba glared at him and stood slowly.

Bakura headed for the door. "Mou, Mokuba-kun!" he called.

"Aaa! There you are!" Mokuba grabbed the boy's hand and started dragging him down the hall, listing off what he wanted the paler boy to cook for him.

Kaiba followed, scowling at how his brother had usurped his pet.

"Mokuba-kun!" Bakura was protesting with a small laugh. "By the time I make all that, it'll be lunch!"

The boy just laughed.

"Why don't you let Bakura decide what he wants to cook," Kaiba said with a disapproving frown.

"Eh?" Mokuba looked over at his bother. "Why?

Kaiba continued frowning and sat at the table, still clutching the picture in one hand.

"Ne, Kaiba-kun?" Bakura asked as he located what he needed. "Did you want something for breakfast?"

"If you cook something I might eat it," Kaiba allowed, noticing the picture in his hand. He looked at it a long moment, then held it close.

"Cook mine first!" Mokuba insisted impatiently. "Niisama can always have some of mine!"

Bakura gave a small laugh at the boy. "Mou, Mokuba-kun," he reproached lightly as he mixed.

Mokuba waited impatiently until Bakura set down his breakfast plate. "Itadakimaaaaaaaau!" he exclaimed happily before near attacking the food.

Bakura gave a small sigh, shaking his head in amusement before setting a smaller portion down in front of Kaiba. He paused a moment, looking at the boy. "Are you okay?" he asked softly.

"I'm fine," Kaiba said sharply, putting the picture face down in his lap while he ate.

"Sorry..." Bakura apologized before heading back to the stove to start Mokuba's second request.

Bakura gave a small sigh, picking up the plates that Mokuba had left after finishing his five course breakfast and depositing them in the sink before serving himself and sitting in the seat the boy had vacated.

Kaiba dropped his own plates in the sink. He glanced at Bakura a moment, then turned on the water and began washing the dishes.

"It's all right, Kaiba-kun, I can get that after I'm done," the paler boy assured.

Kaiba glared at him. "If I minded I wouldn't have started."

Bakura gave a small embarrassed smile, then nodded. "Thanks."

Kaiba continued with the dishes, ignoring Bakura.

The paler boy paused, noticing the framed picture where Kaiba had been sitting. "Ne, what's that?" he asked, nodding towards it.

Kaiba whirled, snarling, brandishing the soapy fork he had been washing. "Leave it alone."

Bakura shrank back some. "O-- okay..." he stammered.

Kaiba glared at him a moment longer, making sure he was obeying, then calmly turned and went back to his washing.

Bakura quietly finished eating and picked up his place and utensils, bringing them over to the sink where Kaiba took them from him and added them to the pile he was washing.

"Is Mokuba-kun always this demanding in the morning?" Bakura asked with a smile as he leaned against a near by counter, watching Kaiba work.

"Mokuba always gets his way," Kaiba said simply.

Bakura gave a small laugh, nodding. "Un. He wouldn't let me go home last night. He even hid my shoes!" he laughed again.

Kaiba shook his head. "Don't indulge him if you don't want to do something."

"I don't mind," Bakura smiled fondly. "There's no school today so there's no harm in it."

"If you let him do it now he'll do it again when it's less convenient."

"I'll have to bring a spare pair of sneakers then, or a cell phone to call Yuugi-kun for a rescue," Bakura joked.

Kaiba twitched at Yuugi's name.

"Sorry..." Bakura looked down.

"You apologize too much," Kaiba said coldly, turning off the water. He picked up his picture and left.

Bakura sighed, looking after him a moment before exiting the room as well.

"Aaa, Mokuba-kun!" Bakura's laugh reached Kaiba's ears. "Is there any game you're not an expert at?"

"Nope!" the boy replied, tone cocky.

Kaiba growled, looking up from the gutting of his files. The other boys were near enough that he could hear them and it was distracting him. Getting up, he stalked to the game room.

He pulled down the chess board and set it in front of Mokuba. "An expert at everything?" he challenged.

The boy looked up with a laugh. "Okay, maybe not everything," he admitted with a smile shifting to face the board fully.

Kaiba held out two pawns to the boy, the same ones he'd had Bakura choose between. Mokuba happily choose the white one and began setting up his side. Kaiba sat opposite and set up the dark pieces. He glanced up at Bakura. "This," he said, emphasizing the word, "is how chess is played."

The pale haired boy nodded, placing a chair to the side of the board to watch.

The game progressed quickly, neither one of them losing any pieces as they set up their strategies. Before long, Mokuba's traps became clear, but Kaiba's took much longer to discern. Bakura watched intently as if studying, nodding slightly to himself periodically in understanding. Mokuba took several of Kaiba's pieces and was looking cocky and pleased with himself when Kaiba's traps began springing. Within four turns, Mokuba was checkmated.

The small boy gave a laugh. "Just like always, niisama!" he smiled.

"Hn," Kaiba said, sitting back. He looked at Bakura. "He isn't as good as he thinks he is. Stay to your plans," he told his brother.

"Sure, sure," Mokuba smiled. "Niisama's the only one who can beat me," he grinned at Bakura.

The pale haired boy gave a small laugh.

Kaiba looked steadily at Bakura. "Bakura could beat you," he said. "If he tried."

Bakura started slightly, looking at Kaiba.

"You think he could?" Mokuba smirked.

"I do. If he thinks he can."

Bakura looked between the Kaibas a moment, then at the board, expression heavy with thought. He blinked a moment, then gave a smile. "Ne, Mokuba-kun," he said, looking at the boy. "I think Kaiba-kun's right."

"You think you can beat me? Ha! You're on!" Mokuba grinned.

Kaiba rose to give his place to Bakura. "Mokuba takes white," he said, handing the pale boy the dark pieces.

Bakura nodded, accepting.

Kaiba sat back to watch the game, nodding in approval as Bakura started to set up his traps. Mokuba, apparently not seeing them, kept breaking out of his own strategy to take Bakura's pieces, thus falling into the paler boy's traps. Kaiba smirked lightly, watching as his brother slowly made his way toward being checkmated.

Bakura's hand was shaking slightly. His modified strategy was working better then he had expected it to, but he was still nervous. He checked the board yet again. Everything was perfectly set up. Mokuba's queen was blocked off by his pawns and all his other pieces were in place expect the last one. Very slowly, he moved the last pawn into place. Checking one last time to see if he had left any openings, he smiled. "Checkmate," he said softly.

Mokuba blinked. "No way!" he exclaimed, eyes wide.

Kaiba nodded in satisfaction. "He has beaten you," he confirmed.

Mokuba gave a heavy sigh. "Aw, maaan!" he near pouted, crossing his arms in a small sulk.

"Sorry, Mokuba-kun," Bakura smiled. "Kaiba-kun was right. You do need to stick to your plans."

Kaiba rose and pulled Bakura to his feet. "Now you're coming with me," he ordered.

The pale boy looked vaguely nervous at Kaiba's tone, but nodded.

"But niisamaaa!" Mokuba near whined. "I was still playing with him."

"Find something else to do," Kaiba said with a small glare.

Mokuba pouted. "At least let me beat him in another game first?"

"You can play with him later," Kaiba said. "It's my turn now."

Bakura covered his smile with his hand, trying not to laugh.

"Fine," Mokuba sighed. "I'll get you later, Bakura," he smirked.

Kaiba led Bakura out of the room and into the office. Closing the door, he kissed Bakura forcibly.

The boy swiftly melted into it, reaching up to hold the lapels of Kaiba's duster.

Kaiba moved them back until he could push Bakura onto the couch.

Bakura gave a startled exclamation as he fell onto it, looking up at Kaiba with wide eyes, breath slightly sped.

Kaiba shed his trench and lowered himself over Bakura. "Mine," he said softly.

Bakura gave a small smile and nodded. "Un," he agreed.

Kaiba traced Bakura's face with a possessive smirk. He pulled Bakura's shirt off, bending down to lick his way down the boy's chest, causing Bakura to arch slightly. "Kaiba-kun," he breathed, eyes closing.

The brunet pulled Bakura's pants off, continuing to move his mouth over Bakura's chest and stomach, finally running his tongue around the boy's nipples. Bakura gave a small moan, hands clutching at the couch below him as his body reacted, his cheeks flushing. Kaiba pulled the boy's legs apart, kneeling in between them, fingers causing Bakura to gasp and moan. Hungrily, they kissed, almost clinging to each other, Kaiba holding Bakura against his chest as the paler boy wrapped his arms around his lover in return, hugging him tightly. Kaiba's lips moved from Bakura's lips to his jaw and neck, causing the other boy's head to fall back to expose more of his neck as he moaned, face flushed.

"You... touch me...." Kaiba whispered into Bakura's ear. "Like no one else...."

Bakura gave an almost dazed smile. "Kaiba-kun," he breathed happily.

Abruptly, Kaiba pulled away, looking down at Bakura with an unreadable expression.

The paler boy looked up at him, half lidded eyes and expression confused. "Kaiba-kun...?" he asked, voice unsure, raising his arm to reach out for the boy.

Kaiba caught Bakura's eyes. Slowly, with great determination, he began unbuttoning his shirt.

Bakura's eyes went wide and he inhaled slowly, watching in amazement as with the same determination, Kaiba pulled his shirt off and let it drop to the side of the couch with Bakura's clothes.

Hesitantly, Bakura reached up, lightly running his fingers over the newly exposed skin in wonder.

Kaiba twitched slightly at the touch, but moved to be closer again.

Gently, Bakura continued his caresses, smiling as his fingers traced soft patterns across Kaiba's chest.

Taking a breath, Kaiba stood, turning his back to Bakura.

Bakura's breath caught, seeing the mass of scars that marred the taller boy's skin. He sat up, eyes pained with sympathy as he reached out a hand. "Can-- can I touch...?" he asked softly.

Kaiba turned his head to look in Bakura's eyes again. After a moment he nodded.

The paler boy gently touched his fingers to the marks and gave a soft exhale, slowly tracing the lines. "Kaiba-kun..." he whispered.

Kaiba sat, silently watching Bakura's reaction.

Bakura leaned forward and wrapped his arms around the taller boy, resting his cheek on the scars as he hugged him.

Slowly, Kaiba relaxed against Bakura's touch, eyes closing.

Bakura continued to hold him, wanting to say something, but not knowing what words could possibly convey what he felt. After a long moment, Kaiba turned, taking Bakura's face in his hands and kissing him fiercely. The paler boy returned it with equal passion, holding him tightly and Kaiba pressed him back against the back of the couch, hands sliding down the paler boy's side to hold him tightly around the waist. Bakura made small appreciative sounds, gently caressing Kaiba's back. The taler boy whimpered softly at the touch, holding Bakura as if he wanted the other boy to become a part of him.

Bakura pulled his lips away with a small gasp. "Are you okay" he asked softly, looking up into Kaiba's eyes.

A single tear made its way down Kaiba's cheek. Unable to meet Bakura's eyes, he shifted so that he could curl against Bakura's chest.

"Kaiba-kun...?" Bakura asked, hugging him closely.

Kaiba looked up, reaching up to touch Bakura's face. "Mine," he said simply.

Bakura smiled and nodded. "And you're mine," he returned softly.

Kaiba smiled, shutting his eyes and burying his face against Bakura's chest.

Bakura leaned his cheek on the boy's head with a fond smile, continuing to hold him.

Kaiba leaned back, pulling Bakura with him so that they were lying tangled together.

Bakura gently nuzzled him, expression content. "I love you," he whispered softly.

Kaiba drew a breath in sharply. After a moment of tense stillness, he leaned up to kiss Bakura desperately. The paler boy returned it happily, gently tangling his fingers in Kaiba's hair as Kaiba clung to him, seeming to want to drown himself in the kiss. Bakura held him close, eyes drifting closed as he lost himself in the feel of his lover. His hands slid down Kaiba's back, holder them even closer as he wrapped a leg around one of Kaiba's, further entangling them.

"Want you," Kaiba breathed.

"Take me?" Bakura answered in a matching voice.

Kaiba nodded, breaking from Bakura to pull his pants off.

A while later, the pair lay, bodies tangled and spent. "I love you," Bakura whispered from inside Kaiba's embrace, snuggling against his lover.

Kaiba murmured an incoherent response, falling asleep.

Bakura smiled softly at the boy, then reach up to retrieve the blanket that had been draped over the couch and covered them both before drifting to sleep as well.

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Note: Itadakimasu is tradionaly said before eating and translates out to roughtly: "I am about to partake"

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Sorry about the delay between chapters. Haven;'t been feeling up to editing lately [lazy and working on m'webpage.] Will try and get a few more chapters edited and psted today, no promices.