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

Chapter 7

When I got to work that morning, I found an extremely unwelcome surprise waiting for me at the door to my office. Namely, a certain white-haired thief turned bank owner. "What are you doing here?" I growled.

"Just waiting for one of Yami's friends," Bakura sneered.

"I don't know what you think you'll accomplish by trying to intimidate me, but it won't work," I answered tonelessly, and stepped around him, unlocking my office door. I'd decided that the best way to get rid of him would be to ignore him.

"Now, Kaiba, why are you being so rude? I let you see me without an appointment," Bakura sighed in mock disappointment.

"I didn't call you the day before and threaten you," I snapped. Of course, I hadn't exactly been polite, either, but I was willing to overlook that.

"Kaiba, I'll make this short," Bakura said seriously, stepping between me and the door. "Talk to Yami. I want him back." The thief's narrow eyes flashed dangerously as he glared up at me.

I gave him an equally hostile glare. "No. Yami doesn't want to work for you, and he's already found something else." I stepped around Bakura, but he moved quickly so he stood in front of me once more.

"You hired him, didn't you? Why can't you just stay out of his business?" Bakura snarled.

"Because I care about him," I snapped back angrily. The thief's eyes widened and I stepped around him quickly, slamming the door behind me as I stomped into my office. A long moment later, I heard Bakura's soft footsteps thump down the carpeted hallway, away from my office.

I started my computer and immediately began scanning through the programs I planned to edit this morning, but I kept hearing my last words to Bakura echo through my mind.

Because I care about him…

Well, of course I did. Why else would I have done everything I had? But, somehow, the simple words seemed to be telling me something else. I cared about Yami- but how? He was the first person I ever called a friend; but that term didn't seem to quite fit. I unburdened my problems to him, when, as he had said, I usually never told anyone that I even had a problem in the first place. Plus, I wanted to be around him all the time, even though he made me uncomfortable sometimes with the way he would touch me…or just the expression in his crimson eyes…

There was no way to describe my relationship with Yami. He was just…an enigma.

Yes…that was the perfect word…that was probably why I was so hopelessly fascinated with Yami. Nodding to myself, I accepted this explanation and focused on my work once more, ignoring the tiny niggling sensation in the pit of my stomach.

I had too many questions regarding Yami to add a new one, anyway.

At eight o'clock that night, I lounged outside the door to the café, smirking as I waited for Yami to exit the building. He didn't know I was coming, and I loved to see the look of surprised happiness on his face whenever I showed up unexpected. I could see the smile already, and the way his ruby eyes would twinkle…thank goodness they weren't so dull anymore…

Yami walked right past me.

I blinked, and swept hurriedly after him as he walked down the sidewalk. "Hi Seto," he greeted, without turning around. "I saw you waiting outside the restaurant."

"What? Why did you just keep walking, then?" I asked in surprise.

Yami finally turned around, giving me the smile I'd expected, though his eyes didn't twinkle. He looked tired- though of course he'd just worked twelve hours. "It was more fun that way," Yami teased.

I crossed my arms and scowled at him, and Yami chuckled softly. "So, are you going to offer me a ride home or not?" he asked cheekily, but before I could reply, he continued, "Or are you still afraid of hoodlums hiding under the broken streetlight?"

"I wasn't afraid of them, I was worried about you," I snapped. Yami immediately reddened.

That was the second time today I'd blurted something like that. Hopefully this wouldn't become a habit.

"Oh…well…" Yami stuttered awkwardly. I merely spun on a heel and stalked toward my car, gesturing for him to follow. "Thanks, Seto," he said breathlessly as he hurried after my much taller form. "I really hate the bus."

"Hn," I grunted simply, and the two of us climbed in my silver convertible. We rode silently for a few minutes until we reached Yami's apartment building. The streetlight was still broken, but Yami's delinquent neighbor waved cheerily at us, so I wasn't too worried.

Yami unfastened his seatbelt but paused before he opened the door. "Do you…" he started to say something, but apparently changed his mind and started another sentence. "Yugi-tachi are coming home this weekend; since they have a break from school next week. Fall break, I think… Anyway, everyone will be at the game shop this Saturday, and do you…would you want to come?"

No.

"Why not?" I replied neutrally. Yami beamed.

"Great! Mokuba can come too, of course. Just be there at six that evening, if I don't see you before then." Yami reached over and squeezed my hand gratefully before he hopped out of the car, still smiling happily. "Thanks for the ride, Seto," he called as he shut the door. Giving me one more brief wave, he strode confidently to the dark, dank staircase that led to his apartment.

I waited until his light came on to drive away, still feeling the warmth of his hand against mine.

"Definitely an enigma," I muttered.

That Saturday, promptly at six o'clock, the happy little bell tinkled over the door of the Kame Game Shop as Mokuba and I walked inside. We were immediately greeted by a host of chattering teens crowing about how much Mokuba had grown. Grinning proudly, Mokuba let Anzu and the mutt's sister fuss over him; while Yugi, the mutt, the white-haired boy and the other guy joked casually with Mokuba.

I watched all this from a few steps back, mulling over how different my brother and I were. Mokuba was, well, normal. I couldn't help feeling proud of him for being so sociable when I could never be, even if I had wanted. But, I still wouldn't change myself- I liked standing apart from the group; standing alone.

"Hi," Yami murmured, suddenly appearing at my shoulder.

Of course, maybe one other person wouldn't hurt.

"Hi," I replied, glancing down at Yami. He wore his black leather outfit- black leather pants and black jacket, with a tight muscle shirt underneath, and I could see that he'd put on a little weight, even though he was still thin enough for me to see his ribs. Yami smiled happily up at me, and I felt the corners of my mouth twitch slightly upwards.

"I'm really glad you came," he added. "I didn't think you'd want to."

"As long as I don't have to associate with the mutt," I answered darkly, scowling and crossing my arms across my chest. He laughed merrily.

Yugi-tachi suddenly went silent.

As one, they turned to stare at Yami, who was still laughing cheerily. I instinctively scooted a little closer to him. "Yami?" Yugi questioned curiously. "You're… What's so funny?" Yugi's huge violet eyes grew even wider than usual as he stared at Yami with a strange, almost hungry expression on his face.

I scooted closer to Yami once more. "What's so interesting about someone laughing?" I snapped rudely. I really didn't like that expression on Yugi's face.

"Nothing… It's just that Yami never…at least not since…" Yugi mumbled incoherently. The others nodded vigorously, as if they understood that pointless sentence.

Yami finally stopped laughing, and a rosy blush spread across his pale cheeks. "It was nothing… Seto just said something really funny," Yami mumbled.

Yugi-tachi turned their bewildered stares to me.

"WHAT!" I growled, now thoroughly annoyed. They slowly turned around and resumed their conversations, all except for Jounouchi, who gave me a thoughtful glance for a moment longer than the rest. But eventually he too went back to joking with Mokuba, and the strange tenseness dissipated.

Beside me, Yami sighed. I quirked an eyebrow at him and he gave me a sheepish grin. "I guess I haven't been too cheerful around them in a while," he explained quietly. "But…things are better now." As he looked up at me, Yami's grin twisted into that odd smile he had worn the night he stayed at my house, and I suddenly realized how close together we stood. I could feel the warmth of his arm against mine, even through his jacket and my long trench coat.

"Yami…" I started to say something, though I wasn't sure what it was, but the tinkling bell interrupted me.

Silence fell once more as a flamboyant, green-eyed young man in tight black leather stepped through the door. (Despite the sudden tension, I couldn't help thinking how much better that looked on Yami.)

"Otogi!" Yami gasped; all the color draining from his cheeks. He moved a step or two away from me. "What are you doing here?"

"Shizuka invited me," he replied indifferently, and the mutt's sister suddenly looked very guilty. "It's been a while since I've seen you all," Otogi continued, observing Yugi-tachi. "Except, of course, for Yami." He gave Yami a flirtatious wink and Yami blushed, much to my annoyance. "And Kaiba," Otogi finished with a triumphant smirk.

Yugi-tachi just stared at him curiously until Yugi finally mumbled, "Er… It's good to see you, Otogi."

"Oh, yes, didn't you know? They're apparently the best of friends," Otogi said, as if he hadn't heard Yugi. Or, more likely, he had already planned everything he wanted to say and was determined to say it regardless of whether it fit in the conversation.

I took a menacing step forward, fuming in anger, but Yami stopped me with a soft hand on my elbow. "Seto, let it go. Please," he whispered, and I reluctantly stepped back.

Yugi-tachi watched me apprehensively, but I just crossed my arms and glared at Otogi, holding back my insults for Yami's sake. Mokuba, however, had less control.

"What does it matter if they're friends? You're making it sound like Yami's betraying you or something!"

Yami's hand clenched convulsively on my elbow at Mokuba's comment and Jounouchi winced, but Otogi just laughed mirthlessly. "Yes, it does sound that way, doesn't it?" he replied vaguely. Yami gripped my arm tightly enough to cut off my circulation as he glared at Otogi.

"I think you should go, if you're just going to cause trouble," Yami told him icily, squeezing my arm even tighter. I tried not to hiss in pain.

"Who's causing trouble?" Otogi asked airily. "But if I'm not welcome…" he trailed off, sighing theatrically. "Well, Shizuka, thanks for inviting me. It was good to see you all- especially you, Yami." Otogi winked flirtatiously at him once more, but this time Yami didn't blush. He was too busy glaring at Otogi's departing figure swaggering out the door to the sound of the happy little bell.

As soon as he had disappeared, everyone swiveled toward Shizuka, glaring at her fiercely.

"Er…sorry?" she mumbled.

After a few awkward minutes, the mood slowly lightened once more and Yugi-tachi went back to their normal rambunctious behavior. Yami, however, seemed more shaken than the others at Otogi's appearance, and kept his nervous grip on my arm long minutes after everyone else had forgotten about the disturbance. I couldn't help being curious about what had happened between the two of them to get Yami this upset.

"Are you alright?" I finally asked, under my breath so the others couldn't hear.

"Yes…yes," Yami replied. He gave me a quavering smile- then suddenly rested his head against my upper arm and closed his eyes.

My heart lurched, and I glanced around the room, thankful no one was paying attention to us. "Tired?"

"Mmm," Yami murmured in assent.

"Well, do you want me to take you home? I could come back for Mokuba."

Yami cracked an eye open and smiled his brilliant smile once again. "Sure. That would be great," he replied. He finally let go of my arm and stepped away from me, and I watched him cross the room with his proud, confident gait as he said goodbye to Yugi-tachi. His slender fingers swept his long blond bangs from his eyes, and he smiled softly at Yugi, who stared at him with that wondering, hungry expression once more.

I wondered just how depressed Yami had been.

Eventually, they finished their long-winded goodbyes and Yami swept calmly out the door. I followed after waving briefly at Mokuba, and found Yami already waiting beside my car. We climbed in wordlessly and rode to his apartment; the silent moments passing swiftly and peacefully, as they always seemed to do whenever I was with Yami.

When we reached his apartment, I followed him up the musty staircase without being asked and stepped inside his tidy little apartment after he unlocked the many locks on the thick wooden door. "Thanks for coming tonight; I'm really glad you were there," Yami told me softly, locking the door behind us. "If Otogi had come…and you weren't there…" Yami trailed off, shaking his head. "It just would have been a lot harder."

"What happened between you two?" I asked seriously, taking a step closer to him.

Yami sighed and lifted a slim hand, lightly brushing my cheek with the tips of his fingers. "Seto, it doesn't really matter. He just wants to cause trouble," Yami murmured softly. His fingers lightly traced my jaw line; then slipped above my ear to trail through my hair. I dipped my head closer.

"But why? Wasn't he one of your top cheerleaders?" I muttered, grinning mischievously.

Yami gave me a half-serious frown even as his fingers kept threading through my hair. "Kaiba, you know they aren't my cheerleaders. They're my friends," he lectured.

"Don't change the subject." I stepped even closer, and Yami slid his hand to the nape of my neck, then wrapped an arm around my waist and rested his head against my chest in an odd sort of hug. Vaguely I wondered what we were doing, even as I wrapped my own arms around Yami and held him close to me.

We stood for a long moment, frozen in this pose in the middle of Yami's living room floor, until I suddenly felt my shirt grow wet under Yami's face. His shoulders began shaking violently and he let out a heartbreaking, wrenching sob. "Yami, what on earth is wrong?" I breathed, shocked.

He pulled away from me suddenly and rushed to the door, quickly unlocking the locks and yanking it open. "I'm sorry…it's nothing," Yami mumbled, swiping an arm across his face. "It's just been a long day, and I'm really tired."

I didn't believe him for a second, but I silently walked through the door anyway. I turned at the threshold, observing his pale face, crimson eyes still shining with unshed tears. "Yami…"

"Bye, Seto," he interrupted, grinning shakily.

And slammed the door in my face.

I slammed the car door with all my might and stomped toward the door to the game shop to retrieve my brother. But, before I could reach it, a hand shot out of nowhere and grabbed my arm. Reflexively I grabbed it with my other arm and jerked, sending the person tumbling harshly to the sidewalk. He hit the ground with a sharp cry of pain.

"Ow! Kaiba, what was that for? I just wanted to talk to you!" the mutt grumbled.

"Hn. Then why didn't you say something instead of trying to attack me?" I growled. I really wasn't in the mood to deal with him right now, so I spun on my heel and started back toward the game shop.

"Kaiba, wait! This is really important," Jounouchi warned seriously. I paused but didn't turn, listening to him climb awkwardly from the ground.

"Well?"

"Did Yami tell you about Otogi?"

At this, I finally gave the mutt my full attention, slowly turning to face the serious brown eyes- eyes that now seemed to hold a shred of intelligence. College must have actually done him some good. "What happened between them?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

Jounouchi hesitated for a moment. "Well… Let's just say that Mokuba was right."