Warning: Major fluffiness ahead! If this story is ooc, this chapter is definitely the worst; there's a lot of Seto running around like a lovestruck teenager; which he sort of is now, but... well, you get the idea.

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

Chapter 10

As soon as the sun's light shone fully over the horizon, I reluctantly decided to wake Yami, since I needed to leave the room before Mokuba awoke but I didn't want Yami to think I was abandoning him right after we'd… Well, he probably wouldn't care anyway. But, just in case he did, I lightly kissed his lips, pressing my lips against Yami's just enough to rouse him.

He kissed me back, even before his eyes fluttered open, and my heart leapt in pure joy.

"G'mornin'," Yami mumbled against my lips.

I rolled my eyes, but less snidely than I might have in the past, and Yami chuckled as he finally pulled away from me, stretching lazily. The comforter slid dangerously low on Yami's bare chest and I had to look away, telling myself Mokuba would be awake in a few minutes. Then Yami leaned over the edge of the bed to look for his clothes, and as the morning sun glinted on the skin of his back, I tossed my resolve out the window (along with my pride and self-respect).

I was trying to make Yami forget about his mysterious lover, after all.

Yami shrieked shrilly in surprise when I suddenly grabbed his waist and spun him around to face me. "You sound like a girl," I snickered maliciously, but before he could muster a scathing reply I crashed our lips together and pulled him down with me onto the mattress. He made a protesting sound in the back of his throat but responded anyway, sliding his splayed fingers down my sides and along my hipbones as we kissed passionately.

I tried to roll him over, but Yami fought back and climbed atop me, and his fiery crimson eyes snapped mischievously. At that expression in his eyes my body responded automatically, and Yami felt it. He winked at me and suddenly rolled away, hopping out of bed and disappearing into the attached bathroom on the other side of the room.

Five full minutes later, I stomped stiff-legged out of the room, cursing foully under my breath.

"Seto, I'm going to be late for work!" Yami gasped when we broke apart for air. He put his hand over his mouth to discourage me, but I shrugged, unperturbed, and set to work making a hickey at the base of his throat. "Seriously. Stop it…I have to go now," Yami admonished (between girlish sniggers).

"Then go. No one's stopping you," I mumbled against his throat.

In a way, I was telling the truth. We had been sitting in the parking lot of the café for the last ten minutes, and Yami really could just climb out of the car at any time and go to his underpaid, graceless job. Of course, I was doing my best to distract him.

"Fine. I'm going, then," Yami told me sulkily and opened the car door; but when he did, he moved his hand from in front of his mouth and I took the opportunity to capture his lips in another lingering kiss. "Se'o!" Yami chided as best he could around my lips.

I just slipped my tongue in his mouth.

He laughed cheerily (although it sounded rather strange) and climbed out of the car- thus, unfortunately, out of my reach. "I'll see you this afternoon…right?" he asked. I gave him a wicked smirk and he rolled his eyes. "Goodbye, Seto."

I gave him a brief wave in farewell and watched Yami stride confidently across the parking lot and disappear into the restaurant.

"I love you," I whispered, once he was out of sight.

The rest of the day sped by in a blur; I remember working on my computer, but my mind was obviously not in the office with me. Instead, it lingered on the memory of a certain crimson-eyed person that I had held in my arms mere hours earlier; until finally the clock struck five and I wandered dreamily past my secretary, grinning at the prospect of seeing Yami again…only a few minutes now…

I vaguely registered her wide-eyed stare as I strolled away.

My cell phone rang obnoxiously but I ignored it, not wanting one of my senseless employees to make me late. I still had a lot of convincing to do, after all- Yami was seriously head-over-heels for someone, and one night with me couldn't push the guy completely from his mind. Actually, I didn't know if anything ever could… But, Seto Kaiba always enjoyed a challenge.

And I had a feeling this one would be especially satisfying.

A few minutes later, I parked in the café parking lot and scanned the sidewalk for Yami. When I registered his familiar form I grinned- but then my heart stopped. Standing beside him was a thin, white-haired young man with a wicked gleam in his eye. That could only be one person… "Bakura!" I growled fiercely and practically leapt from the car in my rush to get to Yami. As I stalked across the parking lot, however, my heart stopped again- this time in a mixture of anger and shock.

Yami leaned over and hugged the white-haired thief tightly, beaming.

"What's going on?" I gasped, frozen in absolute shock. When Yami noticed me he broke away from Bakura, still beaming, and ran over to me and grabbed my hand. I tried to eye Bakura suspiciously, but I couldn't tear my eyes from my gorgeous, happy lover. Lover… I liked the sound of that.

"Seto! I'm so glad you're here! You'll never guess what Bakura did!" Yami cried.

"Offered you your job back?" I guessed darkly.

Yami eyed me curiously. "No… I told him before that I didn't want to work there anymore. Anyway, remember those books you gave me, the ones I lost?"

"You mean the ones you threw out the window?" I replied, a grin tugging at the corners of my mouth in spite of myself.

"Shut up." Yami let go of my hand and gave me a light shove before he continued. "Well, Bakura found them, and he's going to give them back to me! He came by today to ask if they were mine."

"How would he know that they were yours?" I asked suspiciously.

Yami shrugged. "He said he was walking by my apartment building a few days ago and found them on the ground."

My eyes narrowed at this. Why was he walking by Yami's apartment in the first place? I didn't trust Bakura for an instant- something was going on here. I tore my gaze from my still-beaming lover and glanced to where Bakura had been standing a moment before.

He had disappeared.

"Where did he go?" I muttered dangerously.

"He must have been in a hurry," Yami commented indifferently. Then he gently gripped my hand again. "Will you take me home now?" he asked. I shifted my hand so our fingers intertwined and tugged Yami closer.

"No."

As I drove, one hand still tangled in Yami's, I mused darkly over Bakura's appearance. What was he planning? I definitely didn't like the fact that he had been by Yami's apartment- that place was dangerous enough as it was. But, Yami wouldn't go there anytime soon anyway, if I could help it.

I lifted the hand twined with Yami's to the steering wheel, pretending that I needed both hands to drive, so I could tug him closer to me. He rested his head on my shoulder with a contented sigh, and I smirked to myself.

So far, things were progressing quite well.

I was slightly surprised to see how quickly I'd accepted loving him; let alone adjusted to it. But I'd been fairly obsessed with him for a while, anyway, and loving Yami just felt so wonderful… I lifted our joined hands and lightly kissed his fingers, and Yami sniggered cutely. Not that I'd ever admit I thought it was cute, however. "Seto, you passed your house," Yami told me, still snickering.

"Hmm?" I mumbled, not really paying attention; but then his words finally registered in my brain. Sure enough, I was nearly two blocks past my driveway, and by now Yami was laughing hysterically. "Shut up!" I snapped, and swore foully under my breath.

Yami instantly quieted and drew his hand from my grasp. "Fine. Sorry," he muttered. He scooted away, staring out the window, and I knew he was comparing my reaction to whatever Mr. You're-so-wonderful-I'll-wait-miserably-for-years-because-I-love-you-so-much would have done.

I swore colorfully once more.

I turned the car around and drove back to my house, with Yami still sitting quietly beside me, staring out the window. He waited until I had almost made it into the house before climbing from the car and following me, and I sighed to myself. This was not the way to win him over. Tossing away even more of my pride (although I wasn't sure that I had any left by now, anyway) I waited for Yami to catch up with me and caught his hand as he brushed past me impatiently.

"I'm sorry," I murmured.

Yami raised an eyebrow questioningly and carefully examined me with his snapping crimson eyes before he nodded and kept walking. I matched his steps and we strode inside, hand in hand- and this time I was sure he leaned against my side.

Yes, things were progressing quite well indeed.

A week later, Yami had more or less unofficially moved in. He had only been by his apartment to pick up his clothes, and I had been with him then. To be honest, I really was worried about Yami's apartment- something felt off about the atmosphere, and I hadn't seen that delinquent teenager or his friends loafing in the alleyways. It had been strangely quiet.

Of course, I did have an ulterior motive for wanting Yami to stay with me.

On Sunday morning, I lay in Yami's bed, idly stroking his hair as he slept peacefully in my arms. Neither of us had to work that day, so I let him sleep on as the sun slowly climbed the bedroom walls, and I let my imagination drift. Remembering Yami's twisting smile and the way he whispered "I love you," in his sleep the first night we were together, I envisioned him saying those words to me…and giving me that smile as he said them.

"Someday. Someday he will," I told myself, and held his soft, warm frame tighter against my chest, trying to draw comfort from his touch.

It didn't work.

We had been together for a week, and though Yami was affectionate with me, and even passionate; there was no way that whatever he felt for me was as strong as what Yami felt for him. After all, I'd seen the look on Yami's face when he held that stupid box. I sighed and lightly kissed the top of Yami's head, careful not to wake him. "God, I love him so much," I murmured to the empty room.

Just then the door creaked open and Mokuba's fuzzy black head peered around it. "Seto?" he whispered. I grunted in reply and he stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. "Is he still asleep? It's 10:00 A.M.," Mokuba continued. He padded softly across the carpet and sat on the edge of the bed beside me, and I was thankful I'd pulled the blankets up nearly to my shoulders.

Mokuba had figured out Yami and I were together the first day it happened. Like I said, he was always much better at understanding people's emotions than I was. Much to my relief, however, Mokuba hadn't been upset at the news- in fact, he seemed rather unsurprised. That or he was a better actor than I knew.

"So, how did you know?" Mokuba whispered, watching me continue to stroke Yami's soft, thick hair.

"Know what?"

"That you loved him."

"Wh-what?" I stuttered. My hand froze mid-motion and I gaped incredulously at my brother. "Wh-why would you think that?"

Mokuba rolled his eyes. "Seto, it's more than a little obvious," he retorted dryly. "Plus I just heard you say it."

Oh.

I mumbled something unintelligible and Mokuba snickered under his breath. "How long have you known?" he asked.

"About a week," I muttered. A deep flush had crept up my throat and over my cheeks.

"Is that all?"

"Why, did you know before then?" I snapped, slightly annoyed that he'd managed to embarrass me.

"I had my suspicions," he replied loftily, and it was my turn to roll my eyes.

"Mokuba…" I started, but just then Yami stirred in my arms.

"Seto… time s't?" he mumbled, yawning widely. He cracked an eye open and blearily examined my face.

"Ten," I answered shortly, not loosening my grip on him. He mumbled something and settled against my side once again, affectionately kissing the spot on my chest directly below his lips as he closed his eyes. I tried to hide my satisfied grin, but Mokuba saw it anyway.

"Aww," he cooed teasingly.

Yami's eyes flew open. "Mokuba? Seto, why did you let him in here?! He shouldn't see…" Yami yanked the blankets over his head and started punching every part of me he could reach- which was unfortunately quite a bit.

I held back my wince of pain and motioned for Mokuba to leave the room, which he finally did, after giving me a knowing wink. I scowled sulkily, listening to the sounds of Mokuba's hearty laughter fading as he ambled down the hall. Yami stopped punching me and stuck his head over the covers. His wild hair had crumpled cutely all over his head, and I had to smile at the sight. "Is he gone?" Yami asked breathlessly, and I nodded, feeling a new surge of attraction at the adorable picture.

Yami punched me hard in the stomach once more, knocking the wind from my lungs.

"That's what you get for embarrassing me," he informed me smugly, and sauntered casually to the bathroom while I tried to catch my breath.

The next day I dropped Yami off at work before heading to a long day at KaibaCorp. Even if my employees were slightly more sensible now, I still had a lot of work to do, and I'd fallen way behind over the last few weeks. (Though I must say, I had an excellent reason for neglecting my work.) As I drove, I passed Otogi's house and gave it a vindictive glare, only to notice Otogi standing in the doorway.

Talking to Bakura.

I nearly wrecked as I swiveled my head to stare at the unbelievable scene, gaping in shock and growing suspicion- the two of them being together couldn't possibly mean anything good. As I drove past, I watched through the rearview mirror as Otogi and Bakura disappeared inside the house.

I called to check up on Yami at least four times that day.

I finally finished working just after ten o'clock that night, and I sped recklessly along the highway to Yami's apartment, reaching it in record time. Parking carelessly under the darkened streetlight, I hurried from my car to the musty staircase, ignoring the sharp greeting from Yami's familiar delinquent neighbor.

Panting slightly from the exertion, I knocked on Yami's door. He opened it without asking who was there, and I gasped in surprise when he peeked around the edge of the door. Yami's face had regressed to the pale, sickly hue it had been a few short weeks ago, and I was sure I saw the remnants of tear tracks along his thin cheeks.

"Yami, what's wrong?" I asked worriedly, reaching to wipe the tear tracks from his face. He flinched at my touch and didn't meet my eyes. "Yami?" At this, Yami stepped back enough to let me inside, though he still didn't answer me- or look me in the face. "Yami, please tell me what's wrong," I pleaded, really starting to panic, though I tried to keep a calm facade. "Did something happen?"

He shook his head slowly and turned away, shutting the door. I waited, but Yami never turned back; instead he stood, perfectly still, with one hand resting on the chipped wood and his shoulders slumped dejectedly. Hesitantly, I approached Yami and softly began to stroke his hair. At my touch Yami dropped his hand, though he remained stock-still and hung his head.

I sighed, and, grabbing his shoulders gently, turned him around to face me. "Yami, I know something happened. Just tell me why you're upset. Please? What's wrong, love?"

The endearment slipped out without my control, and at the word Yami whipped his head up in surprise, finally meeting my gaze. His crimson eyes filled with tears, and his face contorted painfully as his slim little frame heaved with sudden sobs that he tried desperately to keep from escaping. I couldn't bear it. I pulled him into my arms and rubbed his back soothingly, whispering vague comforting sounds into his hair.

"Shh, shh, it's alright; don't worry…I'll fix it…" I had no idea what I was talking about, but it seemed to help, since Yami's wracking sobs slowly dissipated. He clung to me frantically and buried his face in my shirt, and I felt the cloth gradually dampen with his tears.

"Seto…Seto…" Yami murmured my name over and over; as if it were the only thing he remembered how to say.

I continued stroking his hair soothingly and glanced around the little apartment for some clue to Yami's behavior, when my eyes fell on two familiar-looking books resting on the kitchen table. So Bakura had been by! I should have known. Who knew what he said to Yami…or did…?

As my eyes narrowed in suspicion, Yami finally stopped crying and gave a little sniff. He clutched me tighter and rested his cheek against my chest with a sigh. "Seto? Can we go home now?" he asked.

I could feel my face light up in triumph, and I forgot all about Bakura.

Um... wow. Have I told you guys how much I love you? 36 reviews for the last chapter!! That's just... wow. Thank you all so much. And they were all such interesting reviews, too! Poor Seto got lambasted - he got called dense more times than I could count - though of course that gave Otogi a reprieve from all the death threats... lol

And now for a shameless advertisement (this is for Soraki, who cracked me up when she called Seto a "lametard." lol!):

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