NEWTON'S THIRD by Kiraya

Long time no update, I know… Gomen nasai. I've been working on about ten different fics at once, some of which (aside from those two one-shots) I might even put up one of these days…

Disclaimer-poo: I stole the American school system and transplanted it. So nyah.



But Yami, Yuugi protested, I don't… I mean… Are you sure about this?

Trust me, aibou. It's far better that he find out now rather than being suddenly confronted with it gods-know-when in a way that would likely be embarrassing for all of us.

I guess, the small one conceded doubtfully.

"Where have you been all this time, Yami? I was worried sick."

The teen collapsed wearily on the couch, putting his arms around Yuugi as his aibou snuggled up to him. "Seto's house."

"For an entire day?" The old voice went flat. "Why, may I ask?"

A pause. "There was something we needed to discuss."

"And what might that be?" the other pressed.

"Our feelings for each other." Yami looked his interrogator squarely in the eye. "Seto and I are in love," he said bluntly.

Mutou Sugoroku frowned in startlement at the crimson-eyed young man. Yami's sudden appearance as a daily fixture in their lives, after he had discovered how to physically separate from Yuugi, had been difficult for him; he honestly hadn't known what to make of his grandson's darker half. Eventually, however, he had grown to love Yami as much as he did Yuugi, and even accept some of his eccentricities — such as the former pharaoh's peculiar habit of eating onions in the same manner one would eat an apple. But this… He sighed heavily. Life, it seemed, enjoyed throwing him curveballs.

Yami watched him expectantly. How do you think he's taking it? he asked his light.

Pretty well, I'd say. He's probably a bit taken aback by the fact that you immediately beat him over the head with it instead of breaking it to him a bit more gently.

Be nice, the dark one chided. He paused. …I did not want to lessen your 'jii-san's opinion of me by being less than straightforward.

Don't tell him too much, his aibou warned. He's not a young man, you know, and I really don't think he could take too many shocks to his system in close succession.

I will tell him what he asks to know, the King of Games replied maddeningly.

"Why Kaiba?" the old man finally said. Why that horrible, nasty young man?

"He's not who he was when he ripped up your Blue-Eyes, 'Jii-san. That part of him is long gone. And since poor Mokuba died, he's changed even more. He's become the man I always knew he was beneath that tough, cold exterior; the same gentle, affectionate person he was to his brother." The pharaoh's fierce expression softened. "I love him as much as I love Yuugi — with all my heart." The shorter youth smiled at him and leaned his head on his yami's knee.

"Huh." A half-formed thought drifted across the elderly man's mind. Oh, Kami-sama. What if he…?

Seeing the old man's suddenly frightened eyes dart to his grandson, correctly guessing the gist of his thoughts, the King of Games spoke again. "I have never done — would never do — anything to my light, 'Jii-san," he stated, his scarlet eyes cold but honest. "Yuugi's like a brother to me in every sense but the biological one — and what kind of person—" his voice grew disgusted "—would seduce his brother?"

Yuugi blinked as his dark half's words sank in. His face paled, then reddened. "'Jii-chan!" he yelled. "How could you— I mean, really—" He shook his head disbelievingly. "I love Yami very much — but not in that way."

Sugoroku relaxed a little, relieved. Yuugi's reaction was too genuine to be playacting, thank goodness. It would have been beyond unnerving, knowing his grandson and his ward had been… "involved."

"'Jii-san." The pharaoh's voice broke into his thoughts.

"Yes?"

"I know you don't really like Seto, and you probably don't approve of us together, but I had to tell you. I didn't want to have to sneak around behind your back, hiding this from you. I respect you too much for that."

Suck-up, Yuugi commented, yawning.

Absolutely not, aibou. Every word I've said is completely true.

The fact that Yuugi's yami was being so open about this whole thing was oddly comforting to the old man; the implicit trust was… nice. He sighed inwardly, fixing his grandson's lookalike with a stern gaze. It was obvious that nothing he said would stop the youth from continuing in his foolhardy course; he'd do it with or without approval. "Yami," he said slowly, "I can't say I condone this. However, if it's really what you want… I'm not going to stop you." He looked away. "I just don't want to see you hurt by that boy."

"Thank you for understanding." The King of Games surprised both of his companions by rising and hugging the old man warmly. "But don't worry, 'Jii-chan," he said reassuringly. "Seto would never hurt me."

"For your sake, I hope you're right…" Sugoroku cleared his throat abruptly. "All right," he said briskly, "who's up for lunch?"

"Not me, thanks." Yami smiled, shaking his head slightly. "I just had breakfast half an hour ago."

"That's not like you," his aibou's guardian remarked with some surprise. Yami awoke at dawn most mornings, and broke his fast just as early.

The pharaoh shrugged, flushing slightly.

There was a long pause.

"Just… no. Don't tell me; I don't want to know." The old man threw his hands up in the air and stumped off, muttering to himself.

Yuugi snickered. He's got that right…



Good morning, gorgeous.

Kaiba Seto turned and smiled at Yami as the pharaoh and his light entered the classroom. Even in their school uniform, his lover was so regally elegant it made his… heart ache. ::Hello, love. Sleep well?::

Taking a seat next to the billionaire, Yami's expression changed to an artful pout. No. I missed you too much. He swallowed a piece of the half-eaten orange he held in one hand.

On the other side of his dark half, Yuugi made a face in the middle of a jaw-cracking yawn. It had been a long night for him — even with shielding, it's hard to get any sleep when the other two people in your mind are talking to each other across half the town — and he was rather cranky this morning. If all these emotions you two are flinging back and forth at each other get any more cloying, you're going to make me sick.

The King of Games smiled shamelessly and popped another segment of his orange into his mouth. With a sidelong glance at his koibito, he slowly licked the juice from his sticky fingers with obvious relish.

"Mmmph." Seto shifted uncomfortably in his seat, fixing his former rival with a steady gaze. ::Keep that up and I may decide I have to have you here and now, your friends' sensibilities be damned.::

At the thought of the others' reactions — especially his aibou's — Yami choked.

About half of the room's occupants turned and stared at him.

"Uhh…" He smiled nervously at them once he regained his breath. "Seed stuck in my throat."

Face flaming, Yuugi sank down into his seat. He glared at the two lovers sternly. You could be a bit less obvious — especially you, Yami.

Sorry, aibou. The pharaoh actually sounded almost subdued. His light harrumphed and turned his gaze on Seto, raising an eyebrow.

The billionaire smirked impudently. ::What?::

Yuugi rolled his plum-coloured eyes. Oh Kami-sama, he sighed in resignation. This is not going to be fun.

::I'm rather enjoying it…::



"What happened to you, Yami?" Honda asked in the locker room before gym class.

"Hmm?"

The dark-complexioned boy gestured wordlessly.

The King of Games noted numerous small bruises scattered across the bare flesh of his well-formed torso. "Oh. Umm…"

"Hickeys," Jounouchi pronounced, pulling his shirt over his head. "So that's where you were all day Saturday." He shook his head in amusement. "Someone had a busy weekend, ne?" he observed, nudging Honda slyly.

The other boy sniggered.

In the middle of another jaw-cracking yawn, Yuugi facepalmed.

Yami sniffed, yanking the shirt of his gym uniform down so it covered the topic of conversation. "I don't see why it's any of your business."

"Aww, come on, man," the blond said expansively, putting an arm around the pharaoh's shoulders. "We're just happy you finally found someone — although I have to admit neither of us expected you to take so long. So tell us—" he winked conspiratorially "—who's the lucky girl?"

The King of Games blinked. "…What?"

"I said, who's the lucky girl? The one you—" he made a suggestive gesture "—you know?"

Yami's face turned scarlet. "I don't want to talk about it," he said shortly.

"Go on — no need to be shy," Honda urged, grinning slyly. "Just between friends…"

"What part of I don't want to talk about it don't you people understand?" the pharaoh snapped. He shot a stony glare at his aibou, who had doubled over, his sides heaving. "Are you all right, Yuugi?" he asked, attempting to change the subject.

His light coughed helplessly, so hard that tears ran down his face — or so it seemed. But Yami could hear his little double's hysterical laughter echoing through the vaults of his mind. It's really not funny, you know.

The diminutive boy collapsed on the tiled floor, laughing out loud now.

Jounouchi and Honda stared.

The pharaoh sighed. "Somebody," he remarked acidly, "needs a little more sleep and a lot less sugar."

His light only laughed harder, gasping for breath.

"Aibou?" The King of Games shook his otherself gently, then more forcefully.

No response, just more laughter.

"Yuugi!" Yami was on the verge of panic now. Answer me! Please…

"What's the matter?"

It was Seto. The billionaire raised an eyebrow at the sight of the pharaoh's manic hikari. Firmly pushing Jounouchi and Honda out of the way, he knelt over the petite teen. "Yuugi…"

The violet-eyed boy grinned like an idiot and shook with mirth, still in hysterics.

::Kami-sama. I knew Yuugi could be a little high-strung sometimes, but this is just… disturbing.:: The blue-eyed young man sighed, directing his thought to the small one before him. ::I'm sorry, light of my lover, but this is not going to be pleasant.:: And with that, he smacked Yuugi across the face, hard.

Yami stared at his koi in utter shock. Jounouchi, however, had a different reaction.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he practically screamed, grabbing the brown-haired youth roughly. "You son of a bitch, that was totally uncalled for! Now, if you don't give me a good reason why you slapped my best buddy like that, I'll—"

Kaiba Seto gritted his teeth, resisting the tempting urge to seize the loudmouthed blond by the collar and slam him into one of the lockers. "Yuugi was hysterical," he said calmly. "He'll be fine now."

"Oww." The spiky-haired boy in question, sitting up now, shook his head woozily, gingerly touching his reddening cheek. He looked up at the billionaire. "I… arigatou, Kaiba-kun."

Jounouchi blinked at his friend.

"I recommend you unhand me if you value your continued health," Seto coolly informed him.

The blond released him. "You okay, Yuugi?" he asked, offering the smaller boy a hand up.

"Yeah." He cast a glance at his yami, who was giving Seto his "we-need-to-talk-now" look, and casually said, "Let's go — we don't want to be marked down for tardiness."

"I'll be with you in a moment, aibou," the King of Games said, eyes never leaving his former rival's face.

Yuugi nodded in understanding, then walked off with his friends, leaving the two of them alone.

Seto cleared his throat nervously, but Yami spoke first.

"There's no need to apologise, love. In fact, I want to thank you. I just wish I'd thought of it sooner — although I'm not entirely sure I would have been able to do it. I don't like seeing Yuugi hurt." He picked a loose thread off the other's shirt. "I was rather proud of the way you handled yourself with Jounouchi, though — even if that unhand me thing was a bit excessive."

The taller youth growled. "Damn him, always acting before he stops to think."

The pharaoh chuckled. "He may not have thought, but you did, thankfully. Keep this up and he may actually grow to tolerate you."

His lover snorted. "Why should I care if that dog tolerates me or not?"

"Because if you two start acting somewhat civil toward each other — and you stop calling him that — I might just have to thank you for the peace somehow." The ruby-eyed youth stepped closer, smiling slightly.

Seto's knees went weak. ::Oh, how I love it when he smiles…::

"Perhaps you need a bit of motivation?" Yami asked softly, raising an elegant eyebrow. Tangling his fingers in the other's brown hair, he kissed his koishii deeply.

Seto moaned against the other's sweet mouth, eagerly opening his lips to the pharaoh's questing tongue. Feeling as if he were melting in Yami's arms, he ran a trembling hand down his lover's back, pulling the slender form of the King of Games flush against him.

The spiky-haired youth gasped as they came in contact, a wave of heat swamping him. He broke the kiss, panting. Damn his infernally sexy self for being so irresistible… If I weren't afraid someone'd walk in on us, I'd take him right now. Gods, the thought was tempting…

"If that's my motivation," the billionaire said gravely (though the fact that he was breathless rather spoiled it), "you can be assured I will try to the utmost of my abilities to achieve a peaceful coexistence between myself and the ca— uhh, Jounouchi."

Yami smiled beatifically. "See? That wasn't so hard, now, was it?"

Kaiba Seto muttered something undignified under his breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing," the blue-eyed youth assured his koibito hastily. "Let's go — before they decide that we're cutting class, not late."

The pharaoh nodded, taking a few moments to calm himself before he walked away.

Seto remained unmoving, watching the tantalising movement of muscle beneath the unblemished skin of his lover's shapely legs. ::I hope having a civil relationship with that— uhh, with Jounouchi — is easier than it sounds,:: he thought, sighing lustily.

Yami turned to look at him questioningly. Coming, koishii?//

The brunet hurried to catch up.

13 March 2003.

To be continued.