Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh.

Chapter 9: Tastes Like Chicken

Soon afterwards, Mokuba returned and called Seto and me to dinner; and I grudgingly followed the brothers downstairs. Eating had become somewhat of a chore, since I could still only move about three feet away from Seto and I had to position my chair right against his as we ate. This might not have been so bad- except Seto had long arms. And sharp elbows.

"Ouch!" I muttered for the third time that evening, and wiped food from the table with my napkin, glaring at Seto.

"Did you spill something again?" he teased, shaking his head. I ignored his remark, but lifted my knife threateningly into the air before lowering it toward my chicken. He plucked the knife from my hands before it reached the food.

"Hey! Give that back!" I cried, reaching across Seto as he held the knife just out of my reach.

"You shouldn't be so violent," he smirked. I just glared at him and gave up the knife, turning back to my plate and staring defiantly at the chicken. After a moment of my ignoring him, Seto got bored and lazily tossed the knife back on my plate.

We ate silently for a minute, until I picked up my glass of water. When I had lifted it halfway to my mouth, Seto gave my side another hard jab with his elbow and water flew everywhere, somehow soaking me from head to toe. I jumped out of my drenched chair and gave Seto another furious glare. "Kaiba! Can't you be more careful?" I groaned, wringing out my soaked shirt. My long, matted bangs stuck to my forehead and I impatiently swept them from my dripping face.

Seto just snickered unrepentantly, his cerulean eyes twinkling with merriment at the sight of my pathetically sodden form, and Mokuba joined in, sniggering behind his hand. I scowled at the two of them. "Well, come on then, Seto. I have to change," I ordered impatiently.

"I'm not finished eating," Seto replied.

"Neither am I, but I'd like to finish my dinner in dry clothes," I snapped. He rolled his eyes and stood up, following me to the bedroom without further comment.

When I had changed into dry clothes (with Seto smirking at me the whole time) I gave Seto one last glare and grabbed his arm, tugging him toward the bathroom. "Come on, Seto," I groaned impatiently when he planted his feet firmly in resistance.

"Aren't you finished changing yet?" he asked rudely. "I'm hungry."

"Someone spilled water all over me, and even managed to get it in my hair, so I need to dry my hair now," I retorted in exasperation. "And you spend more time elbowing me than eating, so I don't see what your hurry is."

Seto suddenly stalked into the bathroom ahead of me and grabbed a fluffy white towel. He then proceeded to attack my hair, rubbing my head furiously until every strand of my hair stood on end and I blinked stars from my eyes. "There. Dry," he said, and grabbed a hairbrush, quickly brushing my hair just as roughly as he had dried it.

When he laid the hairbrush back on the sink, looking at me expectantly, I just gaped at him. "You're slow," he explained shortly. "Are you ready now?"

"I think so… Do I look…?" I trailed off, dazed, inspecting myself in the mirror; my mind barely registering the red sleeveless shirt and black pants over its surprise at Seto's actions.

"You look perfect. Now come on," Seto replied impatiently, holding out his hand. Reddening, I took it, but I didn't move. "What? I'm not lying; you look great. Mokuba and the chicken will both be jealous," he added, rolling his eyes, and gave my hand a little tug.

I blushed harder and stared at the floor. "You don't have to compliment me; I'm not a girl," I muttered.

"Well, maybe I want to," Seto retorted, rolling his eyes again. He shifted his hand so that his fingers twined in mine and we walked downstairs together. I beamed happily the entire way.

We never got to finish our dinner. As Seto and I entered the room, our fingers interlaced, Mokuba briefly glanced up from his meal; and when he noted my contented grin his eyes widened. "Seto…" he breathed, tearing his glance from me and examining his older brother. I followed Mokuba's gaze with my own, but when I looked up at Seto I caught him watching me; his lips twisted into a strange, almost pained expression. His thick, dark bangs shaded his eyes, so I couldn't read their expression, but as I watched Seto his lips quirked once more and he turned his head.

He let go of my hand.

"What is it, Mokuba?" Seto asked neutrally.

"Er…" Mokuba shifted his eyes between the two of us; then, furrowing his brow, turned back to his plate. "Nothing," he muttered.

I sighed quietly. This 'secret' was really starting to get on my nerves. How could those two stand to be so mysterious all the time? I wouldn't be surprised if they were just making the whole thing up to drive me even more insane… But then, remembering Seto's blush…

Something was definitely going on beneath the surface. But what?

Without another word, Seto began striding to his seat, with me at his heels; but a sharp ringing suddenly sounded from inside one of the pockets of his long, blue trench coat. Seto paused abruptly, digging in his pocket, and I barely caught myself in time to keep from smacking into him. I stumbled slightly and Mokuba let out a snort.

Seto ignored us both, instead lifting his cell phone to his ear and grunting. The person on the other end must have taken this as encouragement and began talking. A few moments later, Seto actually replied civilly. "Yes, I've been unable to be in the office. I've had personal business to attend to." I frowned guiltily at this and glanced away, coincidentally meeting Mokuba's gaze.

He actually smiled at me encouragingly.

I blinked, but hesitantly smiled in return, thankful that Mokuba seemed to have forgiven me for intruding on his brother's life. While I wondered at Mokuba's surprising change of heart, Seto continued his conversation. "Does it have to be now? …Alright, then. Just go… No, just go, I'll take care of it… I said, I'll take care of it! …No, you're not fired, but you will be if you don't do what I say!"

Seto hung up, groaning in annoyance, and turned to me apologetically. "Yami, I'm sorry, but we have to go to the office. Apparently it's an emergency." He sighed, shaking his head, and I reached out and laid a hand on his arm.

"It's fine, I don't mind. I'm sorry for keeping you away from your work for so long," I replied.

He gave me a tiny grin, barely quirking the edges of his lips upward; but my stomach began its now-familiar gymnastics at the sight. "Don't worry about it," Seto answered briefly, holding out his hand to me. I took it hesitantly, and Seto brusquely began his walk toward the door, with me clinging to him as usual. As Seto called out to his servants to get the limousine ready, I glanced over my shoulder once more at Mokuba.

He still wore his encouraging smile.

When Seto and I arrived at his office, the entire building had been deserted. I guess his employees must have taken Seto's halfhearted threat seriously. Still, it was eerie walking through the dark, empty lobby; the only sounds our echoing footsteps as we hurried to the elevator. It almost reminded me of the Dream World, and I stuck extra close to Seto as we passed shadowy, deserted offices on the way to his own.

When we reached Seto's office, however, I had to smile. Not only was this the familiar site of my escape from the Dream World, but the atmosphere here felt completely different than the eerie ambiance of the rest of the building. His office was situated on the top floor, and wide, floor-to-ceiling windows covered one wall, offering a spectacular view of the city lights. I gravitated automatically toward the incredible sight, but Seto headed for his desk.

Pausing in my tracks, I glanced between the glittering city lights stretched out before me and the slim brunet bending over stacks of paperwork.

I walked over to Seto.

He looked up from the papers and flashed me a quick smile. "I think you're making a little progress. You were about four feet away from me just now," Seto commented, gesturing for me to sit in the chair across his desk.

I tugged the chair around the desk so I sat beside him instead. "Still, I'd rather not take any chances," I mumbled lowly.

Seto laughed, flashing his even white teeth once more before he turned back to his paperwork. "No, I don't want you to either," he replied, sounding slightly distracted as he examined the tiny print. "Hmm… That sounds like a simple virus…and you have no idea how much I wanted you with me anyway… Yes, I can fix that in less than an hour."

Seto nodded to himself and turned to his computer, but paused at the sudden thump of my chair against the carpet as I jumped up, wide-eyed, and backed slowly toward the windows. He didn't even realize what he'd said- but did he mean it? Seto wanted me- even before?

"What's wrong, Yami?" he asked, rising slowly.

I just gaped.

"What? Are you alright? Did the Dream World come back?" he continued worriedly, and I realized I was shaking, though this time in shock rather than fear. Seto approached me cautiously and grasped one of my trembling hands as I continued to stare dazedly into his brilliant blue eyes.

"I…I…" I stuttered and clenched my eyes shut, suddenly unable to face Seto another second as his words echoed over and over in my mind.

You have no idea how much I wanted you with me…no idea how much I wanted you…

I knew I was overreacting, but I couldn't help it, and tears streamed from my tightly clenched eyelids and my form kept shaking as I broke down completely in front of Seto for the second time in as many days. He couldn't want me- especially not now that I was so clingy and insecure; I didn't even want me around anymore. I shuddered as a sob lodged itself in my throat.

Just then, warm arms enveloped me, drawing me close to a slim yet muscular chest, and Seto rubbed my back consolingly, whispering vague comforting sounds in my ear. "Shh, Yami, it's alright, I'm here. Don't be upset- if Isis did something else to you I swear I'll kill her."

I chuckled through my tears. Only Seto could comfort someone with a threat.

He heard my laughter and pulled away slightly, examining my face. I stared at the ground, still not daring to look at Seto, and he lifted a hand and gently swiped the tear tracks from my cheeks. "Are you alright? Please tell me what's wrong," he murmured.

I glanced briefly at his worried blue gaze before dropping my eyes to the floor once more. "You said… You said you wanted me," I mumbled. At his sudden harsh intake of breath, I winced and squeezed my eyes shut again; of course, I had probably misunderstood him…

After a long, silent moment, I worked up the courage to speak again. "Sorry. I know you didn't mean anything by it," I muttered.

"Yami." The harsh word made me finally peek up at Seto's slightly red face; he frowned slightly as he watched me through those intense blue eyes. "Don't be sorry. I'm sorry for upsetting you. But… I just want you to know that I do want you…around…and I always have." He mumbled the last part in barely more than a whisper, and his face reddened even more, though he still didn't break our eye contact.

My eyes widened as Seto stepped closer to me once again and dropped a small kiss on my forehead; but at the touch of his lips against my skin I snapped. I couldn't handle this tension anymore- I couldn't stand being this close to him for another second; not when all I wanted to do was grab him and…

As Seto began to pull away, I fisted my hands in his shirt and jerked him back towards me, standing on my tiptoes to crash our lips together; and as soon as I met those warm, soft lips with my own, I let go of his shirt and wrapped my arms around his neck as I kissed him. Seto let out a muffled gasp, but didn't try to pull away; instead, he slipped his arms around my waist and drew me flush against him.

I moaned in happiness at the feel of his warm body so close to mine- I could feel his heart thudding against his ribs just as nervously as mine had been, and I smiled against Seto's lips. He ran his tongue across my bottom lip and nipped it lightly; and I gasped at the tingling sensation that ran through my entire body even as Seto slipped his tongue inside my mouth.

Seto kept moving his lips against mine, activating all the right nerve endings, even as our tongues slid fervently past each other. He tasted like the unfinished chicken we'd had for dinner. I laughed at the thought and Seto broke away from my lips, gasping for air. "What's so funny?" he panted, beginning to trail wet kisses along my jaw line until he sucked at my earlobe seductively.

"You taste like chicken," I replied, grinning.

Seto quit sucking on my ear long enough to give me a confused glare. "Well, that's the last thing I expected to hear," he quipped dryly.

I just grinned wider and captured his lips in another passionate kiss. Several minutes later, we broke apart, gasping, and Seto rested his forehead against mine. "God, Yami, you're so incredible," he murmured, his eyelids slipping shut.

I smiled up at him, but paused as a thought occurred to me. "Seto? Did you really want me…even before?" I asked hesitantly.

"Mhm," he murmured in assent, his eyes still closed.

"Then- is that what you and Mokuba were talking about?" I questioned, a triumphant grin spreading across my face. I'd finally figured out their secret; I was sure of it!

Seto finally opened his eyes, only to roll them indulgently and back away from me. "I still have work to do," he muttered.

I followed him to the desk, still grinning happily.

A/N: And there you have it! We're almost done- only one chapter to go. I finish my exams this Wednesday, so the last chapter will go up sometime Wednesday evening, as well as the first chapter of my next story. Thank you all so much for reading and responding to this- I'm dangerously close to 100 reviews; I can't believe it -and I hope you liked the chapter. See you Wednesday!