Wow, I wrote that fast once I got a round to it. I can't wait to write the next part, hope I get the time soon.
Oh, I forgot to mention that I edited Ch. 12. I found a lovely little paragraph on the cutting room floor that just needed to go in that chapter. If anyone is curious, it is now the first paragraph of the last section of that chapter, and starts with 'Mokuba quickly blinked back tears…" It is not integral to the plot, so don't worry if you don't feel like going back to hunt for it.
Review Response:
Clarity: I put this on top so I could answer your questions before you read this chapter. Most importantly, this whole story is in Seto Kaiba's first person point of view. Every 'I' or 'me' that is not dialogue is Seto's thoughts, or narration. There is… a small exception of sorts coming up in the next 'Part,' but I'll try to warn you ahead of time. As far as your next question… the answer is right below! Thanks for the review, and enjoy the new chapter!
Okay, we now return to our story, already in progress:
Part IV: Tender Moments
Chapter 14
…someone like you!
I tossed in my bed, thinking about the long moment that passed after those words. It was really probably only a second or two, but it seemed to stretch, seemed to allow too many thoughts to pass through my brain. Would Yugi really ask this of me? Could I turn him down if he said he wanted it? Did I want to say no? I chalked the last up to hormones and the knowledge that I was somewhat 'cut off' from Yugi in the aftermath of our fight. I realized that I no longer wanted sex without love. Ryou was a very attractive young man, but I did not love him.
The endless moments eventually passed, and Yugi spoke again. "Of course, I'm far too selfish to consider that option." Yugi had still been looking at me, but his sight was turned inward, on his own thoughts. He focused suddenly on my face, still frozen in shock. He smirked. "Disappointed? Were you secretly hoping I would ask that of you? Sorry, the only person I want you de-flowering, is me." He had cocked his head, watching my face as it registered even deeper shock. I had felt heat rise on my face, mirrored by the widening of Yugi's smile. "Just not yet." He winked, then sneaked a hand behind my head and pulled me into a deep kiss.
I took it for what it was meant to be: a promise of what was yet to come.
XXX
The next morning Mokuba and I stopped by the game shop as usual to pick up Yugi for the soccer game. Yugi was not ready and waiting as usual. Leaving Mokuba in the car, I accepted Mr. Motou's invitation inside and found Yugi in his room, quickly dressing in layers.
"Seto, how long is soccer season, anyway? Last week was cold, but this is ridiculous. Its mixed rain and sleet coming down, you know. The kids shouldn't be playing in this." He was hopping on one foot putting a second pair of socks on.
I fought against a smile, on principle, and because I didn't want him to think I wasn't taking him seriously. "Officially, the season ended a couple of weeks ago. But Mokuba really likes soccer."
"What did you do?" He looked at me shocked and wary, probably wondering if I was abusing my power in this town.
"Nothing bad, all the kids wanted to keep playing, now that Domino has an indoor field. Some adult teams are even forming. Field hockey and lacrosse, too. And the Domino team will have the advantage when the spring season starts."
Yugi looked at me, his eyes even wider, if possible. "You built an indoor field!" He looked down, and seemed to be speaking to himself, "How did I not know that?"
Though the question wasn't directed towards me, I answered. "Well, we've been focused on other things. And you spent a week in bed." I wasn't sure that we could joke about that yet, but this was one way to find out.
Yugi paused, then playfully smacked my arm. "Sheet therapy! I told you. Besides: your fault." He held his head regally and walked out the door.
I loosed my smile and followed.
XXX
Later that night I watched Yugi as he stood at the stove, turning the crank of the stove-top popcorn popper and also stirring caramel sauce. I considered that I could offer to help, but I didn't really want to. The popcorn pinged against the metal pan as the kernels jumped, the water molecules inside becoming excited in the hot environment. When they reached the climax of their stimulation, the kernels burst with a 'pop,' blossoming to several times their size.
Yugi gave the Whirley-pop™ an extra hard crank, grabbed a pot holder, picked up the caramel pan, stirred it quickly before placing it on a cool burner, turned off all the burners, then resumed twirling the popcorn with the wood handled crank. There were a few straggling 'pops' but most of the kernels had popped, filling the pot. Yugi poured the popped kernels into a large bowl, poured the caramel on top, and stirred it with two wooden spoons.
I was amazed by this performance. I had offered to satisfy Yugi's odd craving by sending a chauffeur to the store for a box of caramel corn, but he insisted on making it from scratch. We had had to raid the cook's kitchen for the ingredients, but we brought it back to the small kitchen off the rec room to make it.
Yugi held the bowl out to me, and I was very glad, as I ate the small, sticky handful, that we did not get a boxed imitation. "Mmmmhh."
Yugi beamed at my obvious enjoyment of the snack. He carried the bowl to the rec room, sat on 'our' couch, and looked at me expectantly. He patted the cushion next to his. "Ok, snack is ready, Mokie's in bed, what's on your mind?"
I stopped and stared at him for a moment. He was getting to know me so well; too well, maybe. I had been waiting all day to continue our conversation, and he knew. I sat next to him. He threw his legs over my lap and balanced the bowl on his knees, and waited.
"Well…" I considered how to start the conversation, but no appropriate preamble presented itself. It didn't seem right to just throw my questions out. But with Yugi, I supposed, it would be alright.
"So, Marik… is his Spirit still around, too?"
Yugi smiled at me, still loving my willingness to believe, and my perceptiveness. Not that he should have been surprised by the latter. I am a genius.
"We don't think so. His case was… different. His Spirit really was a dark half, darkness itself: Yami. He was not a spirit in the Rod, but rather born of Marik's anger, and fed on the power of the Rod and his own emotions. He did live in a tomb, after all. Plenty of workers died building it; thieves died trying to rob it. There was enough Death and Magic in there to breed an army of Yamis. Marik's father did what he himself was taught. He passed down the knowledge of generations, but he was not, himself, a man of magic. He did not recognize the magic in his son, nor would he have known how to teach him to control it. The Magic was able to become self-aware, and control the young Marik, ignorant of its presence. At the Battle City Finals, he took the control back, and banished the Spirit. Marik is strong, and no stranger to evil himself. After all, the Spirit did not take full control until we were on the Blimp. So he'll be aware for its return, now that he has re-committed himself to the Pharaoh's service, and the side of Good. His magic will be weak for a while, but now he can learn control as it grows. We've promised to help him."
I considered the story. A part of me, a rather large part, balked. It was ridiculous, really, to believe something like that. But hadn't I seen it myself? I sighed inwardly. Yes, I believed. Dammit. So, they were going to help the Egyptian… Egyptian?
"Doesn't he live in Egypt? How will you help?"
Yugi's face lit up in a fake smile. I narrowed my eyes as he opened his mouth to speak. "Funny you should ask that… Actually, we are planning a trip to Egypt for the winter holiday. Pharaoh wants to study the markings on Marik's back to see if he can reclaim his memories. He can check on Marik's progress, and I can do some research for my history project."
My eyes widened in shock. Yugi, leaving? "How long will you be gone?"
His face softened, he seemed a little relieved. I was hurt, a little, that he had been worried about my reaction. Maybe he doesn't know me too well, after all.
"Just a week, maybe two." He stated this very quietly, and his hand reached for mine and gripped, hard. Maybe I was misreading Yugi's reaction, after all. Maybe I'm the one who doesn't know him.
"I can have the jet bring you. Is there anything else I can help with?" His wide purple eyes were wet and shining. "Yugi, is something wrong?"
He blinked and smiled. "It's nothing." He let go of my hand and waved it, dismissing whatever thought had saddened him. "There is something you can help with, though. Do you think you can sit with Ryou on the Thursdays we are gone?"
At that moment I would have promised Yugi anything, and I nodded without thought.
But I had to wonder, just what was I getting myself into?
XXX
A/N –
Okay, next Part is called Separation Anxiety. I'll type up and post as much as I can as soon as I can, but somebody has been monopolizing the computer, having waited until the last minute to write all her papers. The nerve…
So, please review and let me know what you think. Thanks!
