Thanks for the reviews. Heh, sorry this isn't anything like before. But I'm much obliged for the encouragement... Uh, and mild warning... Kaiba curses. Gomen (bows, then bounds away)
It was quiet. Quiet, and very still. All that could be heard was the quiet humming of the vehicle's engine. That was it.
But then again, I guess it was to be expected. Kaiba wasn't one for unnecessary noise. He wasn't exactly softspoken, but he wasn't loud either. I shifted uncomfortably, despite the black leather interior. Most would enjoy riding in a limo. But I wasn't. Perhaps it was the company that was preventing me from relaxing. I like quiet to a certain degree, but this was ridiculous. I was feeling tension build.
"... You enjoy riding in limos?" I mumbled. He was sitting across from me, staring out the darkly tinted windows.
"My car's in the shop," replied Kaiba, blandly.
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. "I thought you said we needed to talk," I muttered. Then I glared slightly at him. I definitely felt some animosity towards him. And I had to wonder if he knew it.
"You're back."
I frowned at the obvious statement. "Yes, I am."
"For what reasons?"
"I'm afraid that's none of your concern."
"It's bothering Tristan."
Then I froze. Lowering my head, I stared hard at my hands which were clenching into fists. Kaiba didn't need to tell me that, he truly didn't...
"Why are you here?" asked Kaiba, I could feel him glaring hard at me.
"... It's none of your bus--..."
"The hell it isn't," Kaiba cut in, sounding more than annoyed. "You're here, it's bothering Tristan, and I want to know why."
"It's personal."
"I don't care," he said, coldly. "Tell me, now."
Kaiba and I were obviously not close. But I knew him well enough to not bother attempting to give him 'no' as an answer. "... I'm here... for Tristan."
That glare of his became harder. Colder.
"I left him... and I came back for him," I said, quietly. "I know he's angry at me, but that doesn't change the fact that I want to be here with him."
"Here, in the city?" Kaiba questioned, still glaring.
I looked up at him, and smiled bitterly. "There's no need to feel threatened by me, Kaiba," I said, oddly calm. "Tristan's angry, and wants nothing to do with me..."
Kaiba's eyes narrowed in irritation. Not a good idea to taunt a powerful CEO, was it? But he had Tristan. I assumed I had that right.
He looked back out the window, his face almost expressionless. Almost... "He hasn't been focussed on anything since he saw you," he said, quietly.
Now I was staring at him in shock. Hope seemed to spark a little brighter. "That so?" I asked, still trying to appear calm.
... 'Appear'. Even now, I'm pretty sure I wasn't calm, but merely acting.
"He's at my place... you're going to talk to him, and clear things up."
"... What?" I nearly jumped out of my skin, when I saw we were on Kaiba's estate, nearing the mansion. My heart was suddenly pounding hard.
"You leave tomorrow. Set things straight now. I want Tristan as himself again."
He was speaking in such a curt way, that it left no room for arguing. Once the limo pulled to a stop, Kaiba climbed out the car, gracefully. Me, a little less than agile. I nearly stumbled, until Kaiba's driver straightened me up. Biting my lip, I nodded my thanks, and walked after Kaiba, my legs feeling like iron.
Upon entering, my coat was taken by a maid, almost automatically. They stayed up pretty late, I found myself thinking, since it was around 11:30pm. Unless Kaiba asked them to.
"Tristan still here?" asked Kaiba, as he entered the foyer of the mansion.
"Yes, Kaiba-sama," the maid, bowed slightly as she took Kaiba's coat. "He's in your den."
"Doing what?"
"Piano, sir... Mokuba-sama asked him to play."
I could only look around nervously. Tristan was here? Willingly, at the Kaiba's..?
"Bakura."
I looked up, seeing Kaiba was already halfway up the wide staircase. Giving me another one of those patented glares. Furrowing my brow, I quickly walked after him.
"... I was sure he would leave," Kaiba muttered, almost to himself.
"Um, what?" I asked, slowly. "He-he doesn't live here?"
Kaiba glared at me, yet again. "No, he doesn't..." he replied. I almost gaped at him. For a split-second, I thought I saw a flicker of pain in Seto Kaiba's eyes.
... I wondered if his feelings for Tristan ran deeper than I thought.
The den itself was rather large. At the back of the room, in front of one of the three picture glass windows was a dark oak desk, with a leather chair behind it. The entire left wall was a bookcase, filled with many books; law, business, science, politics... The right wall was the same, just a large bookcase, filled with the same genre of books as the left.
And in front of the right wall was a black grand piano. The air was filled with softly played music.
I swallowed, staring at the man playing. He still played so beautifully.
... Once in Domino High's music class, it was a sunny friday afternoon. Joey wanted to go to the gameshop with Yugi, and Tea was going with them. Tristan didn't want to go, so I stayed with him.
He had sat at the piano, I sat on a desk. He was smiling as we spoke. I had teased him, saying I already knew a lot about him, despite our meeting was less than a year ago. Then he asked if I wanted to learn something new about him. I remember his smile, as he turned to the piano, and simply began to play.
... Something by Tchaikovsky I believe.
I remember closing my eyes, just listening to the music. Once the song ended, I opened my eyes again and he was looking back at me. "What?" I asked, feeling embarrassed.
"... Learn anything new?" he asked, looking amused.
"... You play beautifully."
He looked surprised, then grinned faintly, "thanks."
I noticed that, rather than interrupting, Kaiba stood silently, listening to the music as well. I was grateful, since I love the music of a piano. I smiled slightly. 'My Heart Will Go On', by James Horner.
Kaiba was looking over at a black leather easy chair, along the wall, where Mokuba sat cross-legged, eyes closed, smiling softly.
... Mokuba asked him to play, I remembered. Tristan always seemed fond of classical music, despite everyone's assumption that he was a 'streetpunk'. So his playing something from a movie was different.
The song ended, and Mokuba yawned. "Dunno why, but that song always made me sleepy," he said.
"Which is why your first girlfriend got mad at you," said Tristan, sounding surprisingly like his old self. "You fall asleep during Titanic..?"
Mokuba grinned, "only at the end, because the song started playing."
Kaiba then decided it was time to speak up. "Mokuba, I need to talk to Tristan."
"Oh, you're home, Seto..." Mokuba stood up.
Yikes, he grew, I stared at him in surprise. His hair was still long, and kind of shaggy, only it was held back in a ponytail. And his left ear was pierced too. Joey must have had Mokuba with him.
Mokuba was almost as tall as Kaiba, and his navy blue eyes still held that spark of childish mischief. I've seen a picture of him once in a magazine, as Vice-President of KaibaCorp., saying his knowledge of mathematics and technology were as good as his brother's.
Kaiba cocked his thumb at the door, gesturing for his little brother to leave.
"Alright already," Mokuba shrugged, and yawned again. As he walked by, he blinked down at me, then grinned. "Hey, Ryou Bakura, right?"
I noticed Tristan went still, but I turned my attention back on Mokuba. "Mokuba, it's great to see you again," I said. "How've you been?"
"Eh, can't complain, or Seto'll bite my head off," Mokuba smirked wryly, ignoring Kaiba's annoyed expression. "What brings you here?"
"... That's what I want to know," I mumbled.
He blinked, looked at Kaiba, then back at me. "Heh, right," Mokuba nodded, as he grinned weakly at me. "Sorry, Seto's... still kinda pushy."
"Mokuba," Kaiba said, warningly.
Mokuba smirked at his brother again, "right right, gotcha..." he almost snickered. "I'm going," he said, and he patted my shoulder.
... Someone younger than me was taller than me. That must have stroked his ego...
"Good seeing you, Bakura..." he had said, cheerfully. Then he strolled out of the room, humming the song Tristan had played. Only to be interrupted with another of his yawns.
With an audible sigh, Tristan turned to face me and Kaiba. "Why are you here, Bakura?" he asked, as soon as Mokuba was gone.
I nearly flinched at his tone.
"I asked him to come here," said Kaiba.
Tristan stood up, scowling at Kaiba."Why?" he asked, coolly.
"You know why."
"No, I don't. Enlighten me," Tristan was beginning to glare at him. And Kaiba glared right back.
I really didn't want to step into those glares' paths. Tristan's glares were heated, while Kaiba's were ice-cold. Both were very unpleasant to be looked at with.
"I-I can leave..." I said quickly, stepping back, towards the door.
"You're not going anywhere," Kaiba told me, shortly. And his glare was aimed back at Tristan, "I don't know what your problem is, and frankly, I don't think I care. But I want you to sort things out, now."
Tristan frowned, "it's nothing... and it's none of your business."
"... That's what I told him," I muttered.
"Tristan..." Kaiba actually growled.
"I said 'it's nothing'."
"And I don't believe that."
"Then it just isn't any of your business..!" snapped Tristan.
"The hell it isn't," Kaiba shot back. Then they both went back to glowering at each other, two strong-willed men trying to wait each other out. Waiting for the other to give in.
... It was so much like a lovers' quarrel that it left me feeling sort of empty.
"... There's nothing to sort," Tristan said, through gritted teeth.
"Don't lie to me," Kaiba nearly snarled. "You haven't been yourself since you saw him! And you know it..! You've barely even looked at me, you hardly spoke to Mokuba! All because you've been thinking about him!" His hand was shaking very slightly, as he pointed at me.
I swallowed, as my hands began shaking. Was that true?
"He means something to you! Damnit, I know he does!" Kaiba went on, angrily.
"He doesn't, anymore!" Tristan spat.
... My heart nearly stopped.
"That's bullshit, Tristan!" Kaiba was almost shouting. "Damnit, do you know how it feels, to care for someone who doesn't seem to give a damn about you?"
"... I have a vague idea, yeah," Tristan answered, darkly.
I bit my lip, staring at the argument. Kaiba was actually shaking, and Tristan was so calm, almost detached. Frowning, the CEO walked briskly up to Tristan, and rather than punch him in the face(which I was morbidly expecting), he hugged him.
A lump formed in my throat, as I looked away, pain seeming so much more obvious.
"I hate him," Kaiba spoke in a low tone. "I hate Bakura... because he's the only one who can make you... happy."
Tristan said nothing.
"... I've tried, I tried to be there for you, like you were for me in the beginning. But you shut me out... you've been shutting everyone out, making the people you know miserable..."
He was still silent.
"No good can come of it, Tristan."
Tristan finally sighed in resignation. "Fine," he muttered. "You've become a nuisance, you know that?" he asked Kaiba, dryly.
Kaiba smirked faintly but said nothing. Then he released Tristan, and walked towards me. "You can talk in here," he said, then strided out, closing the door.
I hugged myself, and needless to say, I was feeling unwelcome, as Tristan sat back down on the piano's bench; his head was down, resting in his hands. Then with a quiet groan, he dropped his hands, and looked at me, gesturing at the easy chair where Mokuba was sitting.
Hesitantly, I approached, and sat down. He was about 3 feet away from me. Easily within reach. I was curious if his hugs were the same as before...
"... I'm sorry..." I mumbled.
"For what?" Tristan frowned, not making eye contact.
"For... causing you so much trouble, I suppose..."
"Are you talking about what just happened... or when you left?" he asked, tonelessly.
I flinched that time. I dropped my head forward, gripping my hands together in my lap. "You won't let me forget that, will you?" I asked softly.
"... What do you want, Bakura?"
Straight to the point, as he sometimes was. Swallowing, I looked back up, at him. He was staring at me, his eyes hard with something resembling caution.
I decided if he was going to be straightforward, I may as well too. "Do you hate me?"
Golden-grey eyes widened for a moment, then his features settled back into a rather neutral expression. "What kind of question is that?" he asked.
"One I want... need you to answer."
"... I can't."
"Is it that hard to answer...?" I asked, wringing my hands a bit. I knew this whole ordeal was going to be too emotional for me... but there I was.
Tristan looked away, closing his eyes for a moment. "No... I can't hate you."
"Then why give me the col--..?"
"... Because I had no other way to react... You left, I had to get used to it..."
"Like that? Pushing people away?" I shook my head, "that's makes no sense..."
"... I was too dependent of other people."
"What..?"
He sighed, as he rubbed the back of his neck... tension, I thought. He was as uncomfortable, nervous as I was... I hoped.
"Tristan..?"
"Call it stupidity, I dunno... I've always needed someone to just be there for me, and once you left... I realized how pathetic it was to need someone so badly." He paused, smiling grimly. "I fixed things, Bakura... I don't need anyone now."
... Didn't need anyone? Not even...
"What about Kaiba?" I asked, then I bit my lip, feeling something that felt akin to sympathy.
"... He wants to end things, he can," replied Tristan, calmly. Almost coldly. "Actually, I prefer that he end things... and get it over with..."
My eyes widened, that icy feeling seemed to clutch at my stomach. Just like that? He couldn't honestly think that way. Could he? Kaiba seemed to genuinely... care about Tristan. And here Tristan was, keeping Kaiba at a distance, in case he wanted to 'end things' with him?
"... That's just cruel, Tristan," I told him, softly.
"It works," he replied. "But in all honesty, he's pretty persistant, in his own subtle way." He almost looked thoughtful.
"You can't honestly think that way, Tristan..." I said. "It's not like you, to keep people away..."
"Well, I can't burden people with me, Bakura... it's rude."
"You were never a burden..!"
"Not what I heard."
"Who... who ever considered you a burden?" I asked, my hands trembling.
"... Didn't you?" He was staring hard at me. A challenging gaze.
"I never said... no, I never thought of you as a burden!" I blurted, shaking my head. "You were my friend, a very dear friend, that I wanted to be with so much. And I'm back now, and you're just doing to me what you've done to everyone else!"
"I'm saving you some trouble..!" he snapped.
"You were never trouble!" I was crying... almost. Swallowing, I stood up, and fell to my knees in front of him. I suppose I surprised him, as I wrapped my arms around his waist, hugging him...
He just sat there. I didn't know if it was good that he wasn't pushing me away, or bad that he wasn't giving me anything in return.
"I missed you, you know that?" I mumbled. I closed my eyes, managing to hear his heart beating... it was beating rather quickly...
He didn't say anything. Just sat there, rigidly.
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... please, just let me back, I just..." I was crying. I knew I was. And he wasn't doing anything... biting my lip, I looked up at him. His eyes were closed, as he swallowed thickly. When he looked down at me, tears were in his eyes... and his defenses, which he seemed to hone to perfection, shattered.
"Bakura..." He leaned down, hugging me close. I was sobbing now, clutching at him. "Still too damn nice..." he said, his voice hoarse. "Why the hell..?"
"... Be-because I screwed up..."
"... Heh, that's a good one," he chuckled into my hair. Tristan swallowed again, "I'm sorry, Bakura... for needing you..."
"I liked being needed," I sniffled, managing to regain some composure. "Being needed by you, Tristan, it just... I felt so... special... and I just..."
"... Then why did you leave?"
"I wanted to come back..." I wiped my eyes, speaking softly. "But I thought... Tristan, you were so angry, that I was... scared..."
"Scared of me?" he was mindlessly playing with my hair... it felt nice... comforting. He used to do it all the time...
He no longer seemed angry. Only wanting answers.
And Tristan spoke softly, holding me closer still. "I can't be angry at you, remember? If anything, you're the one who should be pissed at me."
"I can't," I said, quietly. "Not at you, I... I love you... too much."
He tensed for a split-second, then released a shaky sigh. And it was quiet. For a very long moment.
"... Please say something..." I finally whispered.
"... I don't... know what to say to that, Bakura..."
"That's okay," I smiled sadly, hugging him tightly. "Can you just... take me back... please?"
"... Red's gonna kill me," said Tristan, quietly. "I don't want you to leave, again."
"Then I'll stay."
His eyes widened, as he pushed me back a bit. "What? Are you..? Y-you have... London..."
"My publisher might have a branch here in Domino..." I interrupted, then shrugged. "And if not, I can probably find a different publishing company, and I never had anyone in London, so moving here will be best... I'll get to be with you, right?" I smiled.
Tristan looked so surprised, then he smiled in that warm way of his. The way he used to. And he pulled me up a bit, as I was still on my knees, and kissed my forehead. It was so gentle, I closed my eyes, sighing softly.
It took me a while, but I came back for him. And I would stay for him.
oooXXXooo
I stood outside of the den, leaning against the wall beside the door. When Kaiba came back into the den, he had to raise an eyebrow at me on my knees in front of Tristan. I'll admit that such a position was questionable, so I blushed.
Clearing my throat, and bowing in quick apology, I made a quick retreat to the door. It was difficult to ignore Tristan's amused grin. So after sticking my tongue out at him, I was waiting outside in the hall... It wasn't long until their conversation was drifting out to me.
"... So?" Kaiba's voice.
"There a gun in that desk?" Tristan's voice.
"Is that a joke?"
"More or less, yeah."
Kaiba sounded amused, "Bakura seems to work wonders."
"... Nothing happened," said Tristan. I closed my eyes, picturing his mischievious grin again.
"So what're you doing?" Kaiba asked, quietly. "Would I want to shoot you?"
"... Yeah."
"... You know I wouldn't, since I...lo..." Kaiba sighed to himself. "N-never mind... I don't want to... lose you." Then he chuckled wryly, "but then I never had you, did I?"
"... Sorry."
"He always had you... that whole 'best friend' thing was just a trick... since you love him."
I bit my lip, sadly. Kaiba, if you only knew...
"Y-yeah... I think I do..." said Tristan, quietly.
... Suddenly, I couldn't quell the sudden happiness I was feeling. I closed my eyes, smiling gently.
"You angry?" Tristan asked.
"... Surprisingly, no..." Kaiba said, softly. "I just... it'll be good to see you smile again."
Tristan laughed quietly, "you're getting corny, Red."
"... I don't care," Kaiba trying to sound haughty. He then sighed shakily. "I never said it... but I... love you, Tristan. Enough to want to see you happy. If Bakura's capable of that, then that's fine."
... His voice began trembling. I bit my lip, Kaiba...
"... God..." Kaiba laughed, humourlessly. "I don't... the hell... am I doing..?"
"... It's called crying, Seto..." Tristan said, softly. I furrowed my brow, as Tristan dropped the nickname. "You can, it's not like I'm gonna judge you, or something..."
"Like you need an ego-boost... to see me cry... because of you."
"You're not... losing me, Seto..." said Tristan. "I'm not going anywhere, I'm staying in Domino City... we can still see..."
"... Shoot me," Kaiba griped, taking a shaky breath.
Tristan started to laugh, "sorry... that's just cute..."
"Hence the request to be shot."
Kaiba could be a great friend... I thought, smiling faintly.
"This is pathetic... Tristan, leave now."
Tristan only laughed somemore. "Need tissue?"
"No, shut up..! Or I'll hurt you... bastard."
"Sorry, sorry..." Tristan was obviously struggling not to laugh. "C' mere..." They must have been hugging. "I'm sorry, Seto... sorry for being such a pain... and thanks, for being there."
An actual sniffle, "now who's being corny..?" Kaiba tried to scoff.
"Friends... we'll be friends, alright?"
"Yeah yeah... we'll talk tomorrow, leave now." Another sniffle. "Ugh, pathetic..."
Tristan chuckled, "see you tomorrow then... oh, and there's kleenex on the windowsill."
Then I heard the sound of something being hit... Tristan. More than likely a whack to the head, I smiled. "Damare!" said Kaiba.
"... Ow..."
"I warned you."
"And I got you speaking nihongo..." Tristan replied easily, and strolled out of the den. Then he turned to me, confused. "Uh, how long were you standing there..?"
Kaiba's dignity... I may as well do him a favor, I thought. And I smiled, "just a minute ago, came to see if everything was alright."
"Everything's... fine..." Tristan smiled. "C' mon... give Kaiba some space," he said, taking my hand, and leading me away.
I blushed, staring at our entwined fingers. This was right. In more ways than one.
oooXXXooo
I was blushing again. I was standing at the gate, ready to leave. All I was carrying was a backpack, seeing as my other things weren't necessary. I didn't think I needed anything, since I was heading home.
"... Well?" Tristan said, quietly.
I blinked, then looked up at him, smiling faintly. "I can probably get a later flight..."
He raised an eyebrow, then smiled back. "I think you should go... get this over with now," he replied, with a small shrug.
I sighed, my shoulders slumping in disappointment. I really didn't want to go home now. But Tristan was insistant, and saying 'no' to him was impossible. It was time to go, and I knew it. But I was there, standing with Tristan, my hand in his. His grasp was loose, willing to let me go.
... So I hugged him, arms around his waist, nestling my face against his neck, breathing deeply. "I'll come back... two days, at the most."
"I know," he murmured. It wasn't until I saw him again, that I realized I loved his smile, so much.
"I'll wait," he kissed the top of my head.
Blushing yet again, I reluctantly pulled away, and walked through the gate, waving at him. Seeing Tristan in that familiar stance, one hand in his pocket and using the other to wave back, and that warm expression on his face... I knew I had my place again. It was a shame I couldn't stay there; but it was good to know I could come back to it.
And I would. As soon as I could. Professional responsibility be damned.
It's Over.
A/N: hoo boy... this chapter seemed weird, to me, anyways. Again it felt forced, but ah well. I needed to move on, so I basically just... well, look at it... that explains everything I think. It's half-assed, rushed, and all... but like I said, I needed to move on.
Gomen O.o; Anyways, yeah, it's over.I know, I know... and I'm sorry I love the piano. It's gonna be my downfall someday v.v;; but what can one do? Meh...
