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

Chapter 3

"Seto, I'm gonna go watch cartoons for awhile, okay?" The raven-haired preteen quickly swallowed the last bite of his cereal and raised the bowl to his mouth, slurping the excess milk from the bottom before he rose from the table and dumped his dishes in the sink.

"That's fine, Mokuba. I'll be along in a few minutes," Seto answered. He took a long sip of his coffee, raking a hand tiredly through his thick chestnut locks as he watched his energetic brother race from the room. How could anyone wake up at six in the morning on a weekend and not be tired or cranky? True, Seto usually woke up even earlier than this to work, but he'd never been anything close to a morning person. It generally took a little time and a lot of caffeine for him to properly adjust to the world.

But today…

Seto was tired, that much was certainly true. He and Yami had stayed up in his office until nearly 3:00 A.M., going through pictures Seto had saved on his laptop of his satellites and the different probes and space missions Seto had invested in. It had taken several hours, since the CEO had been involved in quite a few – he spent a lot of time and money on his satellites, especially, since he needed to keep his communications systems top-of-the-line – and Yami had listened interestedly to all of Seto's explanations, though the brunet highly doubted he understood them.

That was why, despite the significant lack of sleep, Seto wasn't cranky. Not in the slightest. On the contrary, he had woken feeling better than he had in months, and even stubborn Seto had to admit it was because of his wild-haired rival's presence the night before. Something about spending time with Yami was… well, nice. Agreeable. Seto wasn't sure why – especially since they had never really gotten along before – but he liked it. He had liked that Yami was there.

And he wanted more.

Seto took another slow sip of his coffee, letting the rich smell as well as the caffeine sink into his veins and give his tired body a much needed energy boost as he contemplated this. He liked Yami being there, so he would just have to bring Yami back. Simple as that. It shouldn't be too hard to think of a reason; if nothing else the brunet could just offer to let him come out to the Kaiba Manor to observe the stars again that evening; but that seemed like too long a wait, and Seto had never been known for his patience. He wanted to see Yami now.

But, he'd promised Mokuba he would spend the weekend with him, and Seto didn't want to go back on his word; besides, he had been looking forward to relaxing with his brother away from work for a few days. He couldn't just go chasing after Yami and ignore Mokuba. But then, Mokuba himself had said he didn't mind Seto having someone over… So maybe he could spend time with them both? He could think of some reason to get the crimson-eyed teen to come back to the Manor, preferably this morning, and then Seto would have his relaxing weekend at home as well as the surprisingly pleasant presence of his rival.

Seto briefly wondered why he was going to that much effort over someone who wasn't his brother. But then he decided it was best not to think too much about such things, and picked up the phone.

Gone.

The Blue Eyes was gone.

Jiichan's most precious card, simply vanished.

Yami took a deep, shuddering breath and closed his eyes, counting to ten. Hopefully when he opened them the card would have reappeared and this would all have been some sick daydream brought on by a considerable lack of sleep. But when Yami cautiously cracked open one crimson eye he saw that nothing had changed. The case was still intact, Plexiglas perfect and pristine, and none of the locks had been damaged in the slightest. It looked as if the card had simply vanished into thin air, if it had ever been there at all.

The spiky-haired teen rubbed his palms anxiously over his face, letting his fingers slide back to rake through thick blonde bangs. There was only one person Yami knew – well, two – that could steal something with such precision, almost like magic, and they had been in the store the day before. He thought he'd kept an eye on them, though; Yami's gaze hadn't left them the entire time. When would they have had the chance to take it? When they grabbed a handful of manga and ran? This… this was too perfect. It would have taken far too long to open the display case with such care that it would seem to have never even been disturbed.

"But who else could it have been?" Yami muttered to himself. "Bakura's had a long time to practice when it comes to stealing, and Malik is just insane. No idea what he would try…"

Yami paced back and forth along the game shop floor, knocking into a few displays and sending cards fluttering to the floor, but he never even noticed them as he stared wide-eyed at nothing. "It has to be them! Who else is there? But how? I don't understand… But that doesn't matter; I have to get it back! I promised Jiichan to take care of things while he was gone… But how do I find them? I don't even know that, and it's not like I have a car, even if I did decide to shut down the shop for the day and go chasing after those psychos…"

Just then the phone rang and Yami started, knocking a few more mangas to the ground as he jumped at the shrill clatter. "I don't have time for this," he snapped, but yanked the phone from the receiver anyway. "Hello," he barked.

"That's not a very polite way to answer the phone. Shouldn't you at least say, 'How may I help you'?"

"Kaiba," Yami sighed, immediately recognizing the rumbling voice – though the snide remarks were a clue as well. "What do you want?"

"Still being unfriendly, I see. I suppose I shouldn't invite you back to my house then; you'll have to look at the stars in some deathtrap park. I feel sorry for all the muggers."

Yami scowled. He really didn't feel like dealing with Kaiba's attitude; he needed to figure out what to do about the missing Blue Eyes. "That's fine with me; I never asked you to invite me to your house anyway," he snapped.

The line went silent.

"I see," Kaiba said slowly.

Yami immediately felt guilty. "No… Seto, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that, it's just…" He bit his lip, wondering if he should tell Kaiba about the missing card.

"What is it? Is something wrong?" Kaiba asked suspiciously. "Is someone there?"

Yami blinked. "Huh? Where would you get that idea?" He shook his head, continuing, "Jiichan's Blue Eyes; it's gone… I don't know what happened to it; Bakura must have stolen it but I don't know how…" His voice cracked a little bit, barely suppressed panic making Yami's throat clench tightly.

Silence from the other end of the phone. Then, "Stay there. I'll be there in a few minutes." With that Seto hung up, not giving Yami a chance to reply before the line went dead in his hands. The crimson-eyed teen stared stupidly at the phone for a minute, wondering what Kaiba was planning, before he shrugged it off and replaced the telephone in the receiver, resuming his frantic pacing back and forth across the game shop floor.

When Seto knocked on the door of the Kame Game Shop a few minutes later, he was greeted by the dark, frantic eyes of his rival as Yami yanked open the door. "Kaiba, you're here," Yami greeted, sounding relieved.

Seto merely nodded in reply, his sapphire eyes sweeping around the room to see items strewn messily along the floor and the door to the supply room in the back hanging half-open. "Looks like someone really did break in, then, and they definitely made a mess of the place," he mused. "Are you sure it was Bakura? What else did they take?"

"Huh?" Yami glanced around the room in confusion before his cheeks reddened slightly. "Oh. I must have accidentally knocked a few things over."

The brunet quirked his eyebrow, fighting down the urge to snicker. "I see."

"I was upset!" Yami protested, folding his arms across his chest.

"Uh-huh."

"Kaiba!"

"Yes?"

"Rrrr…" Yami growled, frowning grumpily at Seto, who merely smirked and leaned over, picking up a random magazine from the floor and replacing it in the display bin.

"But the old man's card is really gone? You're sure you didn't just misplace it?" Seto asked, straightening and turning back to face the smaller teen.

Yami sighed. "I couldn't misplace it. It's locked in a case and I don't have the key." He gestured to the empty display and Seto nodded, frowning slightly. Yami sighed again and anxiously scrubbed his face with his palms. "What am I going to do, Seto? It just… vanished…"

"It's not your fault," Seto replied curtly. His eyebrows furrowing slightly, Seto stared silently at Yami for a minute until the other turned away from his gaze. "I agree with you. Those two psychos most likely stole it, if not yesterday morning then last night while you were away. The only thing to do now is hunt them down and get it back."

Yami nodded, looking up at Seto from under thick blonde bangs that had fallen in his face while he anxiously tugged at his hair. "You're right. I thought about that already; but there just isn't time. I have to run the shop, I promised Jiichan…"

Seto looked at his watch. "It's barely 7:00 A.M. The shop doesn't open until what, nine?"

"Ten."

"Even better. We still have three hours before you have to be back here; that's plenty of time. You know where they live, right?"

"Well, I think they've been staying at Ryou's apartment, but I'm not sure… And I still have all this inventory to go over; I really don't know if I can…"

"Shut up and get in the car."

By this time, Seto had known Yami for a number of years. He had seen his rival furious, protective, broken and in despair; had been alongside the other as he fought proudly for the ones he loved; had seen the other laugh and seen him cry, seen the crimson eyes light up with amusement and pure joy, but he had never seen this. This was new and surprising, strange and yet somehow endearing.

Yami was, simply put, completely freaked out.

After directing him to Ryou's apartment, Yami sat stiff and rigid, his fingers clenched tightly against the upholstery in Seto's car as they drove silently through the streets. But the silence only lasted a few moments before Yami began to babble; strained, vaguely strung-together streams of thought about how Jiichan and Yugi were depending on him, and how he'd failed already after only one day of watching the store and had to get the card back because he couldn't let them down. The general rubbish, really, only this time Yami seemed far more upset; perhaps because he wasn't surrounded by his usual group of overenthusiastic friends.

No; this time there was only Seto, and as Yami poured out his long monologue, his slender fingers loosening their grip on the upholstery to trace somehow familiar patterns atop the soft leather, Seto couldn't help but feel a little closer to the wild-haired teen, as if the theft of Sugoroku's card had given them a common bond, a shared experience belonging to Yami and Seto and only Yami and Seto. True, the brunet admitted to himself, he and Yami had shared plenty of life and death encounters, and it certainly wasn't as if they had never been alone together; they had spent hours together just last night.

But… there was just something about this, right now, that felt different.

Seto pulled into the parking lot of the apartment building Yami had pointed out, glancing over at his now silent companion. Yami's head hung ever-so-slightly downward, thick lashes downcast over worried crimson eyes, one hand tugging anxiously at the sleeveless black shirt he always wore even as the fingers of the other still grazed in rapid patterns across the leather upholstery.

"Well, we're here," Seto offered quietly, and Yami nodded, eyes flicking momentarily toward Seto before the two of them opened their respective doors and headed toward the entrance to the apartment building. As they walked through the smudged glass door and climbed together up the narrow staircase that led to Ryou's apartment, Seto felt a sudden warmth creep along his arm and attach itself to his elbow.

He looked down. Yami had slipped his hand into the crook of Seto's elbow, his long, slender fingers gripping Seto's arm almost tightly enough to hurt. The smaller teen's face was still turned straight ahead, eyes trained in front of him, even as he clung to Seto's arm and leaned slightly against his side while the two walked side-by-side up the narrow staircase and into the slightly grimy hallway. Seto wondered if Yami even knew that he was touching Seto; the hand on his arm felt more like an unconscious, familiar gesture, as if in his anxious state the other was unknowingly clinging to something – or someone – he trusted for comfort.

Seto broke into a wide smile.

"This is Ryou's apartment. I've only been here a couple of times, but I think I remember Yugi saying that Malik and Bakura were staying here." Yami glanced up at the tall brunet beside him, blinking a little in surprise when he saw the other's grin. "Seto?" he questioned.

Seto shook his head slightly, the smile fading. "It's nothing. Just knock on the door," he replied gruffly.

Sighing, Yami took a step forward, his hand sliding from its grip on Seto's elbow as he pounded on the door. "Bakura! Malik! Are you in there?" he called. "It's Yami; I need to talk to you!"

He took a step back, and he and Seto stared at the door for a few seconds until Yami began to wonder if the two thieves were actually there – or if they would even talk to Yami anyway. But just as he turned to mention this to Seto, he heard a rustling sound from inside the apartment and the door creaked open, and Seto and Yami met the annoyed gaze of a skinny, white-haired teen, clad only in his boxers and rubbing sleep from his eyes.

"What do you want?" Bakura snapped.

Yami glared fiercely at him, opening his mouth to reply, but before he could get out the words another scantily clad teen, platinum blonde hair hanging in wild clumps over his sleepy, tanned face, walked up behind Bakura and wrapped his arms around the other's waist before burying his face in Bakura's neck. "Kuraaaa," he whined. "Why'd you get up? You said we could go again in the morning…"

"Shut up Malik!" Bakura hissed as Seto and Yami's eyes widened in shock. Yami hadn't known the two were that kind of friends… "I said, what do you want?" Bakura demanded again when Yami continued to stare.

"I… I…" Yami stuttered a moment before regaining his composure and glaring at the thief once more. "You stole something from the game shop and I want it back," he demanded.

Malik lifted his face from its comfortable resting place against Bakura's neck and blinked at Yami in surprise before glancing quickly over to the left where a stack of mangas lay piled chaotically on the carpet. Bakura just narrowed his eyes. The three stayed frozen in that position, glaring daggers at each other without saying a word, until Seto finally shifted and cleared his throat. "We don't care about your stupid comics," he snapped. "Give Yami back his card!"

The two half-dressed thieves exchanged glances. "I don't know what you're talking about," Bakura finally growled.

"Jiichan's Blue Eyes White Dragon!" Yami shouted. "I don't know how you got it out of its case, but give it back right now before I mind crush you both!"

Malik and Bakura looked at each other once more before Malik stepped back and the two of them crossed their arms across their chests, giving Yami and Seto identical scowls. "I'm not afraid of you, Pharaoh," the paler one spat. "If I had taken it I'd rub it in your face and laugh about it, then murder you in your sleep and carve it into your tombstone."

Malik snickered. A wicked smirk crept across his tanned cheeks and he whispered something in Bakura's ear, toying with the other's white hair as he murmured, still snickering under his breath. "I see," Bakura said flatly, still staring at the two in front of him. He nodded slightly and the corner of his lip turned up in the slightest hint of a grin – though the expression did less to comfort Yami than to worry him even further.

"Well, Pharaoh, it seems I owe you an apology."

Yami blinked. "Huh?"

At his reaction, Malik burst into fresh peals of laughter and the hint of a grin on Bakura's face widened into a full smirk. Yami started forward, frustration and fury blazing in his scarlet eyes, but Seto stopped him with a hand on his shoulder before Yami could send the two fair-haired annoyances on a permanent trip to the Shadow Realm. "Explain," the brunet ordered curtly.

Malik winked at Bakura before sighing dramatically. "Pharaoh, I admit it. I stole your card. I would give it back, but…" He grinned maliciously. "I already sold it. Still got a good price even though it was damaged, especially after a little coercion on my part."

"WHAT?" Yami and Seto shouted simultaneously. The spiky-haired teen rushed forward and grabbed Malik's bare shoulders, shaking him until the Egyptian's teeth rattled. "How could you? Who did you sell it to?" he demanded. "Tell me!"

Strong arms wrapped gently around Yami's waist and tugged him backward, pulling him away from Malik. "Yami, stop it," Seto hissed, holding him tighter when the smaller teen tried to lunge at the Egyptian once more. "Who did you sell it to?" Seto asked levelly, though his cobalt eyes flashed dangerously at the two thieves.

Malik snorted, gingerly rubbing his shoulders. "I was going to tell you," he muttered sulkily. "I sold it to Otogi last night. Even though it was damaged he thought he could use it as a display for his store."

"Otogi! But that was Jiichan's display, he knows that! He's seen it a thousand times!" Yami cried, "Why should I believe…?"

The door slammed shut in his face.

"Go away, Pharaoh, we're tired of dealing with you," Bakura called through the door, and they heard his heavy footsteps walk away, Malik shouting nonsense in the background.

"Kura! I can't find Book 9 of Gravi! Did we take that one?"

"Who cares? That one sucks anyway," Bakura replied, the last Seto and Yami heard of his voice before they were left completely alone in the silent hallway.

"I don't know… I just don't know," Yami sighed for at least the tenth time since he and Seto had gotten in the car. "How can I trust them? Otogi wouldn't steal Jiichan's card. But then he might… he wasn't exactly friendly when we first met him. What do you think, Seto?"

But before Seto could respond, Yami was off again, rambling incessantly as he went over and over every possible situation in his mind. Was Malik lying, and he still had the card? Or maybe he was lying about taking it at all, and he and Bakura never actually took the Blue Eyes in the first place. Or, had Otogi really bought it from Malik even though he knew it rightfully belonged to Jiichan?

Yami didn't know. He was, understandably enough, more confused than he'd ever been in his life; and now more than ever unspeakably grateful for the presence of the slim brunet who sat next to him, driving silently and listening as Yami continued to sort through his jumbled thoughts aloud. "Kaiba… Seto… what should I do?" he finally sighed, slumping forward and burying his face in his hands.

"Go to work," Kaiba replied with a smirk, bringing the car to a stop. Yami looked up, frowning in confusion, until he saw that they had pulled into the game shop parking lot.

"Oh. Haha," he muttered weakly. "Well, I'll see you later, I suppose." He opened the door, beginning to climb out of the car – but Seto grabbed his arm.

"Wait. I was just kidding," the brunet reassured him, his sapphire eyes sweeping over Yami's form as the other sat beside him, his slender body twisted to face Seto though one leather-clad leg already hung out the door. Seto kept his grip on Yami's arm. "You have until Monday before the old man comes back; I'll take you to see Otogi tomorrow morning. You'll still have plenty of time to find the card even if Otogi doesn't have it."

Yami sighed. "Thanks, Kaiba. I just don't know what to do; this is such a big mess. I don't understand how it happened at all; I know I was watching those two – how did they even get the card in the first place? I just have to get it back; I can't let Jiichan and Yugi dow... mmph!"

Seto kissed him.

Interrupting his sentence and taking him completely by surprise, the brunet leaned over and pressed his lips against Yami's; merely the slightest brush at first, then shifting into soft warm pressure that, though surprising, sent faint tingles of excitement and pleasure running all throughout Yami's body.

He kissed back.

Softly, hesitantly, the crimson-eyed teen leaned forward and began to respond to Seto's kiss, letting his eyes slip shut in bliss; but then the brunet pulled away, settling back in the driver's seat and letting go of Yami's arm.

"See you tonight, then."

"To…night?"

"You're coming over, right?"

"Er… yes?"

"Alright, then. I'll let you get to work." He waved briefly, little more than a two-fingered mock salute, and Yami nodded and climbed from the car, his scarlet eyes wide-open and dazed, turning back to stare once more at Seto when his feet balanced unsteadily on the sidewalk.

"Ah… Bye?"

"Goodbye." Seto reached over and pulled the car door shut, giving the other one more tiny wave before backing out of the parking lot and speeding away, Yami watching the departing car as it turned a corner and disappeared.

He didn't move for a long time after that.

A/N: Surprised? Well they are hormonal teenagers after all... Well, let me know what you think; next chapter has both of their thoughts about the kiss and some more about the stars. Hope you enjoyed!