CHAPTER 2: Dreams and Dares

"Dammit Jonouchi, if you don't shut up, I'm going to ram your suitcase up your ass!"

"Yami, did we HAVE ta bring Captain Sunshine ova dere?"

"If the two of you don't stop it, I'm going to toss the both of you off the plane!"

Yami and Mokuba both exchanged grins as they listened to the bickering of Seto, Jonouchi and Anzu. For some reason, Seto and Jonouchi enjoyed baiting each other and hardly ten minutes would go by without one insulting the other.

Seto had a cutting, sardonic way with words and he was able to deliver a devastating insult with a perfectly straight face. On the other hand, Jonouchi's retorts were equally as funny, mainly due to the references that he used.

Yami checked his watch. Just under an hour before they got to the island. He wondered if his friends could manage to refrain from killing each other before then.

The girl studied herself in the mirror and smiled. Her long, dark hair streamed over her slim shoulders and her dark brown eyes gleamed in anticipation.

"I'm coming for you, Seto," she murmured. "And there is nothing that SHE or anyone else can do to stop me."

Seto breathed in the cool air of the air-conditioned bedroom and began to unpack. After the heat of the outside, the coldness was refreshing. When he finished, he sauntered into the adjoining bathroom to take a shower. He emerged refreshed and donned casual clothes – a black t-shirt and a pair of faded blue jeans. He debated going down to the ocean but weariness made him change his mind and he came to the decision that he would take a short nap instead.

He lay down on the plush comforter and was soon, deep asleep.

Mocking laughter followed him. He spun around, in the misty night, trying to locate the source of the unnerving sound. Light touches caressed his face, arms and chest, yet he could not see the person.

Seto felt his will draining from him, the desire to resist, dissolving into a need that was much more carnal. The seducer felt the change in his body and uttered a throaty chuckle.

"Don't fight it, surrender to me," she whispered softly. "I am what you have been waiting for all these years."

He cursed his betraying body, even as he retorted, "Since I can't see you, I highly doubt that."

Her voice hardened, losing the silky purr and becoming harsh and abrasive. "Stop trying to resist. My will is stronger than yours." As if to prove that point, the fingers slid down his chest, arousing him with indolent ease.

Seto gritted his teeth and tried to clear his mind. It did not do anything. Those skilled fingers set to work on him, dipping inside his jeans, caressing him until he was a creature of pure sensation.

When it was over and he fell to his knees, limp and sated, he heard the woman's mocking laughter, just before everything faded to black.

Seto opened his eyes and sat bolt upright in bed. He looked around frantically, half expecting to hear that seductive purr in his ear.

Shakily, he raked his hand through his hair and swung his long legs over the mattress. They felt wobbly and his shirt clung to his sweat soaked torso.

"What happened?" he muttered, bracing himself against the bedjamb. He recalled the physical pleasure keenly, but at the same time, he felt unclean, defiled.

Quickly, he stripped and walked to the enormous bathroom, where he turned on the shower. When the water was so hot that it was almost scalding, he stayed under it and tried to scrub away the memory of the dream.

Afterwards, he toweled himself dry and dressed, this time in black jeans and since it was evening and the temperature of the island had dropped considerably, a lightweight white sweater. His stomach grumbled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten for hours, so after running a brush quickly through his hair, and spraying on some cologne – a unique scent that he had had custom made, Seto ventured out of his private suite.

The first person that he saw as he entered the huge kitchen was Jonouchi.

"Oh great – you," he remarked as he recognized the blond man.

Jonouchi's tawny eyes darkened in anger. "I'm not jumpin' for joy when I see ya face either, Kaiba. So just bug off!"

Seto managed, with a supreme effort not to give in to his grin. Jonouchi' never failed to amuse him. It wasn't that he disliked the other man – actually quite the opposite. He recognized that Katsuya had a quick mind and like himself and Yami – he was able to strategize and make snap – but sound decisions quickly. In fact, he mused, he would never have allowed Jonouchi to hold a managerial position in the company – a position that was just under Seto himself, Yami and Mokuba. Essentially, in the absence of all three partners, Jonouchi was in charge of the place.

Mazaki ran her own business – as a dancer and instructor. She had left for America when she was nineteen and returned three years later to set up a school of dance. Seto had to admit that the girl had a lot of talent. She had also matured much from the first time that they had met – both physically and mentally.

Years of dancing had toned her body into a sleek, graceful pillar of fluidity. Her hair was longer now – it fell in a straight column to below her shoulder blades and she had it subtly highlighted to accentuate her bright blue eyes. Seto was also grateful for the fact that she had stopped preaching her sermons on friendship – they used to annoy him no end.

Notwithstanding, Anzu was a babe and if it wasn't for the fact that Yami had feelings for her – although he refused to admit them, Seto would have tried his hand at seducing the attractive dancer. However, he would have no plans of a permanent relationship with her and since she was a friend, he did not think it fair to treat her like that.

For Seto, women were never a problem. With his incredible good looks, money and power, females flocked to his side constantly. He was an excellent lover and lavish when it came to giving presents to the woman that he was currently seeing. His last mistress had been a gorgeous blonde by the name of Callista. She was a model – tall, thin and utterly uninhibited in bed. However, like he did with all of them, Seto had soon grown tired of her and had sent her off two weeks ago.

Of course, he had given her a generous parting gift – a thick golden bracelet that positively dripped diamonds.

Callie took the parting badly though, showing up in his office, alternating between tears, pleading and all out rage. Seto had been unmoved however and had calmly called security, having her forcibly removed from his office.

Yami had lectured him on the cold-hearted manner that he had used in dismissing the girl, but Seto had merely shrugged and informed Yami that his personal life was his to deal with as he saw fit.

Focusing back on the present, Seto quirked an eyebrow at Jonouchi's belligerent face. "Don't get your panties in a snit Jonouchi. It's bad for our health – not to mention your balls." With that parting shot, he grabbed one of the sandwiches that the staff had prepared and left on the counter and was out of the door room before Katsuya could retort.

Seto chuckled as Jonouchi's curses filtered through the heavy door behind him. He bit into the thick sandwich, savoring the taste. In his hunger, he devoured it in a matter of moments and was considering going back for another when Mokuba appeared.

"Hey bro!" the dark haired teenager hailed him.

"Mokuba!" Seto's face lit up in a grin. No matter what, his little brother always managed to brighten his day. "What's going on?"

"Nothing much, I wa- "In the middle of Mokuba's sentence, the kitchen door flew open and Jonouchi stormed out. He fixed Seto with a murderous glare and stalked off. Seto grinned and his blue eyes danced wickedly.

"Seto, have you been harassing Katsuya again?" Mokuba questioned.

"Of course," Seto replied unrepentantly.

Mokuba groaned. "C'mon man, I thought you guys were going to try to get along!"

"Get real, Mokuba," Seto chuckled. "Asking the two of us to get along is like asking the sun not to rise."

Mokuba rolled his eyes. "Anyways, big bro, I was coming to see if you wanted to join me for a swim in the ocean."

"In the dark?" Seto asked. "Aren't there sharks out there?"

"And eels and stingrays," Mokuba added cheerfully. "Makes it even more interesting."

Seto paused, and then grinned. "Why the hell not? Let's find Yami and find out if he and Jonouchi have the balls to do it."

"Just make sure that Anzu doesn't find out," Mokuba warned. "You know how she can worry."

Seto nodded. "I'll find Yami – you go tell Jonouchi that I said that I doubt he'll be man enough to come with us." He winked at Mokuba. "That will be SURE to get him to come."

Fifteen minutes later, the four men met at the water's edge.

"Where's Anzu?" Seto asked.

"Watching television," Yami replied. "I popped in her favourite DVD - some sappy love story." He rolled his eyes.

Seto chuckled. "So are you guys ready for a race?" The others nodded.

Mokuba cleared his throat and explained. "We walk to the end of the jetty across there and on the count of three, dive off. We will then swim to shore. As you may have realized, tonight is a full moon, which means that nocturnal predators will be out in full force." He paused and looked around. "If anyone has any doubts – I suggest you back out now. Once you dive in, there is no turning back." His dark gray eyes scanned each face in turn.

'Seto?"

"I'm game," his brother replied.

"Yami?"

"Ready."

"Katsuya?'

"Bring it on!"

"Okay!" Mokuba clapped his hands together. "Let's go!"