Author: Wintersslayer
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Seto/Yami
Spoilers: None that I know of.
WARNINGS: Some language maybe. AND THIS IS A STORY ON SETO/YAMI! SO DON'T READ IF YOU DON'T LIKE.
Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh.
Summary: AU. Seto Kaiba is the greatest duelist ever. No one comes even close to besting him. So, Mokuba creates a hologram to challenge his big brother. However, no one ever expected the hologram to develop feelings...or for Seto to return those feeling.
Status: 9?
A/N: Thanks so much for all of your wonderful reviews (and a few fun threats were amusing as well ;) )
I'm SO SORRY for taking so long to update. My old comp is messed up, and this new laptop that I just got doesn't have Microsoft Word or anything that I could use to type this up. So, the chapter has been written for awhile now, but I had no way of typing it up. Finally, I found out that the laptop does have something called "Notepad". Never used this program before, so hopefully the chaper will still turn out okay. Gah, I so need to get my cousin over here so he can download the Microsoft software.
So this is THE chapter, that the story is based off of! Kinda exciting for me. In Pixel Perfect, the Disney movie that I got this idea from, there's this scene where the hologram goes into the girl's mind to help wake her up or whatever. And when I saw that scene, my mind came up with a scene for Seto and Yami, and thus the story was born!
Anyways though, enough of my babbling. Here's the chapter!
START OF CHAPTER
Chapter 9
Crimson eyes gazed carefully around their surroundings. It was cold. And dark. Very dark. Thick mists swirled endlessly aorund him, making it difficult for him to see. This was not at all what Yami was expecting. He could not believe this was what the mind of the brilliant CEO looked like. Someone with such poise, such intensity, such PASSION, could not possibly have a mind so dark as this. Something was VERY wrong here.
"Seto?" he called gently, hoping to get some sort of returning answer. When he didn't get one, he called out the name a second, louder time. Still no response. With a sigh, he decided he might as well start walking. Maybe he could find some answers then.
Yami walked for what seemed like forever. He wasn't sure if he was going in one direction, or traveling around in circles. It was always the same surroundings: darkness, the mists thick and heavy, threatening to suffocate him. He sensed an immense aura of sadness and despair in these dark mists, and wondered what possibly could have Seto feeling this way. He also wondered if he would ever find a way to help him. This was starting to look like a bad idea.
When he had all but given up, the mists began to lighten and disappear before him, revealing a rather large form in the distance. The hologram quickened his steps some, squinting into the darkness, trying to make out the figure. "Seto?" he called out in a hopeful voice.
The figure did not answer. However, Yami was now only a few feet away, and crimson eyes widened at the sight before him, a relieved smile appearing on his face. "Seto!"
The CEO was sitting next to a rather large dragon, one hand slowly stroking the massive head next to him. When he looked up, the smile on Yami's face instantly faded. Once stunning, intense blue eyes were now dull and lifeless. The face that had held such confidence was now dejected.
Yami quickly closed the distance between them, kneeling down beside the other. Hesitantly, he placed one hand on the other's shoulder, and whispered softly, "Seto, what's wrong?"
A small sigh escaped the brunet's lips as he turned from Yami and back to the dragon. "My Blue Eyes is dead," he whispered sadly, in an almost choked voice. "He's gone...forever."
The hologram remembered that Mokuba had once told him that the Blue Eyes White Dragon was his brother's favorite monster, his most treasured card (well, three most treasured cards, actually). He also remembered the shining brilliance of the creature from his and Seto's first duel, the look of pure pride on Seto's face when the beast had majestically appeared before them. One look at the dragon, and one look at Seto's face, and he could instantly tell how much time and effort the CEO had put into creating him, painstakingly working and re-working the programming to make him absolutely perfect and brilliant.
But now...
But now, the dragon had lost his brilliant shine, his commanding presence. Now, the dragon seemed to reflect the dullness and lifelessness of his master's eyes. Or, perhaps, it was the other way around, that the master's eyes were a reflection of the dragon.
Either way, Yami could not stand to see the other like this. He just had to do something. Thinking quickly, a small smile appeared on his lips as he thought of something. His hand still on the brunet's shoulder, he said in a gentle voice, "Seto, he's not dead, but merely asleep."
He stood, then placed his hand so that it hoovered an inch or so over the dragon's massive head. Closing his eyes in concentration, he exhaled deeply, focusing all of his energy on the dragon, willing him to wake up. Suddenly, the dragon's nose underneath his hand began to glow slightly. Still breathing deeply, Yami began to walk slowly along the side of the dragon, keeping his hand outstretched over him. As his hand passed the massive head, and down the long graceful neck, those too began to gradually regain their brilliant shine. He passed over the wings and the back, then down the lengthy tail. When at last he had reached the tip of the tail, he opened his eyes and took a few steps back. The dragon's entire body was now glowing, illuminating the darkness around them, breaking it. The dragon lifted his enormous head as he gave his neck a good stretch, then his wings, and finally his tail.
As the dragon finished his stretching, crimson eyes carefully watched Seto, watched as the blue eyes slowly began to regain their intensity. The dragon nudged his master gently with the tip of his nose, wanting him to stand up. He did, reaching out a hand to tenderly stroke his beloved dragon's head as he did so. As he continued to stroke his head, the thick mists around them began to disappear, the darkness going with it. The ground beneath them became green and lush, and huge beautiful trees began to quickly sprout up as well. As darkness became light, in the distance was revealed an enormous mountain range, a waterfall falling down in the middle of it and into a flowing stream. The last of the mists finally disappeared to reveal a clear, blue sky above them.
Yami watched in amazement as the stunning landscape revealed itself around him. Now, THIS is what the brilliant mind of Seto should look like: a wondeful paradise for his beloved dragons to enjoy and live in. A paradise that no one would be able to take away. A special paradise that belonged to Seto and his dragons alone. A paradise that he was grateful to be allowed to see. It was a wondeful last memory for him, combined with seeing Seto peaceful and well.
Several roars were heard as the other two dragons appeared, flying from the mountain tops and circling above them. The dragon with Seto gave his master one final nudge with his nose, then surprised Yami by ambling over and giving him a nudge in the face as well. Yami smiled as he gently patted the dragon's head. With a roar of his own, the dragon spread his wings and took off to join the others, leaving Yami and Seto alone.
Blue eyes looked at red ones, and they stared at one another for what seemed like a long time. They continued to hold each other's gaze as they walked towards each other. Once they were standing face to face, the shorter of the two had to tilt his head slightly upwards. Seto smiled gently as he reached out to cup the other's cheek in one hand, his thumb gently stroking the smooth skin beneath. Yami sighed as he closed his eyes in pleasure, his own hands coming up to gently press against Seto's chest as he leaned slightly closer into his touch.
Memories of the kiss that they had almost shared in his office that night flashed through Seto's mind. The kiss-that-wasn't that seemed to haunt his every waking moment, and that even had invaded his dreams. His smile never left his face as he slid his hand from Yami's cheek to his neck, tugging the other closer to him as he took a small step forward. He slid his eyes shut as he leaned down and pressed his lips against the other's in a slow, tender kiss. Just as he had imagined, Yami's lips were indeed soft as rose petals against his own, and he was delighted when he kissed him back. He snaked an arm around Yami's waist, his other arm slipping down to join the other as well. Yami's arms instantly wrapped themselves around Seto's neck as the two continued their kiss.
Long moments passed before they broke apart, panting slightly, resting their foreheads against each other. "Perfect..." Seto murmured under his breath, barely audible. "Everything about you is so perfect."
At this, Yami's eyes snapped open, and he struggled to push himself away from the top-ranked duelist, placing his hands on the other's chest. However, Seto refused to let go, keeping his arms firmly around his waist. He tried to peer into crimson eyes to see what was wrong, but they were now averted, directed towards the lush grass beneath them."Yami?" he questioned softly.
When Yami didn't answer, and still refused to meet his gaze, Seto placed a strong yet gentle hand on his chin, lifting it up so he could see those beautiful red orbs. He was shocked at what he saw. The eyes that gazed back up at him were filled with sadness and...was that regret? He never was any good at this emotional stuff. "Yami," he repeated, "What's wrong? Please, tell me so I can help..."
There was a long pause before Yami finally answered in a low voice. "I'm not so perfect. If I was, then I would never cause you so much pain."
"Pain? You mean from me getting shot? Yami, that was the doing of a psychotic bastard. You had nothing to do with that."
He shook his head, blond bangs flying a bit. "That's not what I meant..." He gazed into sapphire eyes, hoping that when he was gone, they would not return to the dull and lifeless state that he had seen not too long ago. He hoped that this wonderful world would not revert back to those awful dark mists that he had wandered through for what had seemed like hours. A part of him hoped that Seto did not care for him as much as he cared for the CEO, but the other part KNEW that this just wasn't true. So he hoped htat Seto would be able to move on without him.
Seto sighed as he slowly moved his hand to tuck a few blond bangs behind one ear. Yami had gone silent again, but at least he was looking at him this time. However, the way in which he was staring at him was a bit unsettling. It was as if he was preparing to say something that both of them didn't want to hear. Seto breathed deeply. He wasn't very good with showing his feelings, but he hoped that by at least trying to tell Yami how he felt, it might help ease whatever he was worried about.
"For the longest time, I had always thought that the only things I would ever care about were Mokuba, Kaiba Corp, and my dragons. But then you came along, and suddenly, I found that I had been missing something that I never knew I even wanted." He paused briefly, trying to gather together his thoughts. "Now honestly, I don't know a thing about love, so I don't know if this is what people call "love"." Another short pause. "But what I do know is that life for me can never be the same again. I can't- I can't imagine what life would be like without you."
Crimson eyes widened, and tears started to form in them. It was not what he had wanted to hear, yet at the same time it was what he had longed to hear.
Seto gently brushed away the tears that had slipped down Yami's cheeks. "Shhh...don't cry. I know that when we get back to the outside world, we won't be about to do things like this, hold each other...kiss each other. But it doesn't matter. We'll find a way to get through it."
More tears started to fall as Yami struggled to say what needed to be said. "S-Seto, I care so much for you, but...but haven't you realized it yet?"
He cocked his head to one side a bit. "Realized what?"
"That...that I-I'm not coming back to the outside world with you."
Sapphire eyes widened. "What...? What do you mean, you're not coming back with me?"
"I can't. Mokuba told me that if I went into the computer that was connected to your brain, then there was no way for me to come back out of it. I'm so sorry Seto."
Now it was the CEO's turn to be silent. How could Mokuba allow Yami to do this? No...no. Yami was quite strong-headed and resourceful. There probably wasn't much Mokuba could have done to try and stop him. Seto knew that Yami was willing to give himself up for the sake of Mokuba and himself- he had been willing, after all, to allow that bastard Dartz to change his programming, to change HIM, in order to keep them safe from any harm. Perhaps that was why he had fallen for him, because he was the only person in the world who actually truly cared about him, without any hidden agenda, without any expectations in return. And now, he was going to lose this precious find of his...
Seto tightened his arms around Yami, almost crushing him against his chest. "You never should have come here..." he whispered. "I'll find a way to bring you back to me. I promise. I won't rest till I do."
Yami shook his head against Seto's chest. "No, please don't. I want you to move on with your life. You have Mokuba to take care of still. Don't waste your life on me..."
"But life without you isn't much of a life at all."
Before Yami could reply, he felt a sudden jolt go through him. He pulled back a little and looked at his hand. It started to fade slightly before him.
"What's going on?" Seto asked in alarm as the person in his arms started to fade.
A small, sad smile flitted across Yami's lips. "Only one of us can be in here, Seto. It seems my time is up..."
Blue eyes widened. "No! You can't leave me!"
"I'm so sorry, Seto." He reached up and gently pressed his lips against the other's in a final kiss good-bye. "I don't know what love is either, but I think I do love you." He could no longer feel the brunet's arms around him. "Thank you for everything. I will never forget you."
And then he was gone.
In the hospital room, blue eyes snapped open as Seto sat up with a gasp. "Yami!" he cried out, looking wildly around the room.
His little brother, who had been sitting next to the bed, clambered up into it and embraced him. "Seto, you're back!" he cried happily. "You're back! He actually did it!"
Seto numbly hugged his brother back. He'll keep his promise, and bring his Yami back. He'll find a way. He just had to...
END OF CHAPTER
Er...hope that wasn't too bad or anything.
Hm, so this Notepad program doesn't have a spell check or anything like that. Hopefully, I caught my mistakes and all those annoying little typos. Sorry if I missed a few though.
So is Yami gone for good? What's Seto going to do? One of you already guessed what he's planning (I gave a bit a of hint last chapter I think it was).
Well, hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Sorry again for the long wait. Thanks so much for your patience! Please review. ;)