Seto was use to waking up early each morning. Even if he was planning on working from home that day he would still wake up at 5:30am so he could get some work done before Mokuba got up.
That morning was different however.
As the beginning rays of sun started streaming through the cracks in the blinds Seto's clear blue eyes snapped open upon hearing a strange noise coming from the body next to him.
During the night their bodies had shifted. Seto was now laying on his back with Yami half on top of him, resting contently in the brunet's arms.
Seto heard the strange noise again and realized that Yami was purring in his sleep. It was nice, soothing, and relaxing. Unfortunately it ended all too soon for the CEO.
The body in Seto's arms shifted and rolled away from the brunet as Yami slowly gained consciousness. With his back turned to Seto, Yami laid his head on his pillow and attempted to go back to sleep. His tail however had a mind of its own which decided to flick around brushing against Seto's chest.
Reaching out with one finger, Seto stroked the black fur, tracing the fine furs back to the base. Poking around the hole of Yami's sweat pants, Seto rubbed the area, generating more purrs from the half cat.
"You're awfully good at turning cats on," Yami teased while keeping his back turned to the brunet.
With a blush Seto yanked his hand away. Rolling over Yami gave the brunet CEO a sexy smirk.
"Stop looking at me like that," he grumbled, sliding further away from the ex-Pharaoh.
"Come on don't be mean now because it's morning." Rolling closer, Yami once again snuggled up against Seto. "Thank you for taking care of me last night."
"Oh great, you remember that," Seto replied with a sour look on his face. "The person who barely remember what he did two hours ago can remember what happened last night while being completely out of it. Remind me to make you pay for the aquarium you broke and fish you killed which got you in that mess."
Instantly he regretted saying that when he saw the sad look on Yami's face. "I am sorry for that. You came after me when you didn't have to. I'll understand if you want me to leave."
Seto sighed and placed his arms back around the cat-human so that Yami couldn't escape. "I don't want that Yami. Do you realize that you could have been seriously hurt yesterday? The aquarium could have shattered against you when it fell. Do you think that would have made me happy? To come home to find you unconscious on my floor with glass embedded into your skin with blood everywhere?"
"I guess I've never saw it that way," Yami quietly replied, burying his face into Seto's shoulder. Reaching up with a hand, the brunet stroked Yami's tri-colored head.
"Well not everyone is blessed like me to be graced with both looks and intelligence."
Yami looked up into the smirking face of the handsome brunet. "So you're not upset with me?"
"Nah…well maybe slightly annoyed because I now have to take a day off of work to replace Mokuba's fish tank. He's probably happy because now he can sucker me into getting him a bigger aquarium and more fish. Plus he's been after me for months to take a day off."
"Hide them from me," Yami told him with a grin on his face. He was happy that things were better now between them. Although he hated to admit it, Mokuba was right, he was falling for the reincarnation of his priest.
"I'll buy you a shock collar when we're at the pet store to send mild shocks throughout your body if you stray into a room you aren't supposed to go…I'll make sure to rig up my room and office first."
"Don't you trust me?" Yami playfully asked.
"I don't want you to rape me in my sleep."
"I believe you're the one who stayed in my bed last night."
"Hmph. Doctor's orders." Before Yami could reply, a rumbling was heard from his stomach. "I guess that's my cue to get you some breakfast."
Both Seto and Yami rolled out the king size bed and headed downstairs towards the kitchen where they found Mokuba seated at the kitchen table. That was when they remembered there was still no food in the mansion.
"I guess we're going out for breakfast and buy food afterwards," Seto announced before looking over at Yami. He had forgotten that the former Pharaoh was unable to leave his mansion.
With anyone else, Seto wouldn't have cared but this was Yami. Another grumble escaped Yami's stomach and Seto realized that it had to have been at least 24 hours since the ex-Pharaoh had eaten anything.
"We could get takeout somewhere and bring it back," Mokuba suggested coming to the same conclusion.
"That would take a long time," Seto replied with a small shake of his head. "The nearest place is twenty minutes away."
"It's okay," Yami lamely said. "I'm not hungry." His stomach however gave himself away as it growled again.
Yami gave a frustrated sigh. He thought he was making so much progress with Seto but as he watched the tall brunet thought things over he just knew that he would be forgotten once again.
"There's just one solution then," Seto finally declared. "Yami comes with us."
"Seto have you gone insane?" Yami asked as he followed the tall brunet up the stairs. The pair had left Mokuba downstairs while they had left to get changed. "I have cat ears and a tail. I can't go out."
"Just get dressed and meet me downstairs in five minutes," Seto commanded before disappearing inside his own bedroom.
Yami growled but did what he was told dressing quickly in leather pants and a midnight blue sleeveless t-shirt. He then made his way down the stairs where he found Seto and Mokuba waiting for him.
"You're late," Seto said who impatiently had his arms crossed, an object grasped in one of his hands. Yami rolled his eyes at him, wondering why he couldn't have fallen for someone else.
"By 30 seconds."
"That's still late."
"I still don't get how you're getting me out," Yami grumbled, behind him his tail flickered back and forth. "This thing isn't exactly easy to hide."
"It is if you have the right clothes," Seto replied tossing the object in his hands at Yami who easily caught it. Unraveling the bundled, Yami found it to be a black leather trench coat. With a grin, Yami slipped it on and was happy to see that it was a perfect fit to cover up his annoying tail.
"Thank you!" he beamed. "When did you get this?"
"A few days ago," Seto admitted with a casual shrug of his shoulders.
"Niisama didn't even tell me about it," Mokuba piped up, who also had a grin on his face. There was also a knowing look in his eyes, which he directed at Yami as if to say 'I told you so'.
"What about my ears though? They blend in pretty well with my hair but they're still noticeable."
"Mokuba."
"Niisama also go you this," Mokuba said walking forward and handing Yami the black hat he had in his hands. It was similar to the type of hat that Indiana Jones made famous in his movies. Placing it on his head, Yami found the brim was large enough to cover his cat ears, which also blended in with the black coloring of the hat.
"There, you're good to go," Seto said. "We can't do anything about your fangs but no one should notice them unless they get too close which won't happen." Strolling over to Yami, Seto picked up one of his hands and rubbed his thumb over smooth surface. "Fortunately you've filed your claws down far enough they resemble human finger nails."
It was true, Yami had gotten bored over the three days he was alone so he had begun filing his nails. "Do you really think this will work?"
"I know it will. Just stick next to me and everything will be fine."
"Seto…I don't like this…' Yami hissed. He was clutching Seto's hand tightly as he was led across the restaurant. "Everyone is looking at me!"
"That's because you're spazzing out. Just relax."
Directed to a booth at the far end of the restaurant where they were less likely to be bothered, a normal request by the brunet CEO whenever he ate out, Yami slid across the cushions with Seto sitting down next to him so that the ex-Pharaoh couldn't escape and would feel more secure.
"Don't worry Yami, most people are already at work, so this place is half empty," Mokuba told him as he sat down opposite them.
"Let's just hurry up and eat so we can get out of here."
"What about my fish?" Mokuba protested. "We still have to replace them and we have to buy food."
"Isono is taking care of the food," Seto informed them. "I called him before we left and he's going to make sure the place is stalked by the time we get back. We do need to go to the pet store though."
"I want to go home," Yami whined.
"If you go home too soon Isono will be there and will see you."
"Fine, we'll go to the stupid pet store," Yami grumbled as a small pout formed across his lips.
"Good."
The waiter soon arrived and Seto ordered for Yami who had begun sliding under the table so he wouldn't be noticed. A swift kick from the brunet brought him sit back up.
"Couldn't we have gotten take out and gone to a private park or something?" the cat mumbled while they waited for their food.
Seto rolled his eyes. "And risk you getting caught up another tree or killing all the squirrels? I think not!"
"I only did that once," Yami huffed. Another pout appeared on his face.
"One time too many."
Mokuba watched on in amusement as they bickered back and forth. He had to hold back a giggle for they were acting like an old married couple.
The duo fell quiet as their food arrived. It was an American breakfast, which consisted of waffles, crispy bacon and toast, food, which Yami normally didn't get to eat.
"Eat up," Seto gently commanded. "You're way too thin. If you don't be good I won't take you out to eat again. Do you need me to cut up your food for you?"
"Bastard," Yami quietly grumbled. That time Mokuba couldn't hold back his giggles.
"Mokuba…" Seto warned while Yami glared at the raven-haired child.
"Sorry Niisama, Yami."
The trio quietly ate their food. They had things to do that day and talking was only delaying things.
Eventually they were finished and were able to leave the restaurant. Getting back into Seto's SUV, they headed to the massive pet store where the Kaiba's brothers shopped.
The store was divided into two different sections. Half the store was only for fish, reptiles and aquariums. The other half was for the more 'normal' type pets like cats, dogs and small animals. Taking up half a block it was the only pet store that Seto would be caught dead in.
Upon entering the store, Seto and Mokuba headed straight to fish section. Yami, who had orders from Seto not to go near the fish, was left on his own to wander the rest of the store.
Walking past the mice cages, Yami licked his lips but then decided to move onto safer territory where he couldn't get into trouble. After two minutes of searching he finally found cat section. He wasn't there long however when he heard some familiar voices coming from the aisle next to him.
"Oh look! Isn't this cute! Killer would love it!"
"Get that stupid thing out of my face."
Turning the corner, Yami spied down the aisle to find Malik with stick in his hands. Attached to the stick was a toy mouse on a string. Currently Malik had the mouse part held up in Bakura's face so that his boyfriend could get a better look at it but he was only annoying the white haired thief.
Angry for what they did the day before, Yami stormed down the aisle to confront them.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Tom!" Bakura taunted. "Are you out hunting for Jerry?"
"You two have a lot of explaining to do!"
"About what?" Malik asked holding the toy up Yami's face and began jiggling it around. Frustrated, Yami began batting at it with his hands but Malik would always just pull it out of his reach. "See! I told you this toy is perfect!"
"You were right…for once…let's get it and get out of here. All these cute, cuddly things are making me nauseous."
"Yeah okay," Malik replied. Turning away from Yami, the twin psychos strolled away.
"Hey! I'm not done talking to you yet!" Yami hollered after them.
"Shhh….no yelling in the store," an employee scolded him who was busy stocking shelves.
Yami glared at her back before spinning around and walking in the opposite direction. He would deal with Bakura and Malik later. He had a week and a half left until Isis turned him back to normal and then they would pay.
Wandering around the store, Yami wondered how much longer he would have to wait until Seto and Mokuba was ready to go. Unfortunately for Yami he wandered into the dog area where a woman was looking at dog treats with her rottweiler.
The massive dog began barking at Yami who froze in fear. The rottweiler was pulling on his chain and the woman frantically began trying to hold him back.
Taking off running down the aisles, Yami hurried away from the rottweiler. Behind him he could hear the dog chasing after him and the woman yelling out commands for the dog to halt.
Yami ran as fast as he could, not really knowing where he was headed. Down aisles he hurried. When he saw the dark lighting indicating he had reached the other side of the store, Yami ran faster through the rows of aquariums filled with fish until he found what he was looking for.
"Seto!" he cried as the tall brunet came into his vision.
Seto turned around to look at him and when Yami was close enough he leaped into the CEO's arms, wrapping his legs around Seto's waist and his arms latched around the brunet's neck.
"Yuki! Stop!" the woman yelled at the rottweiler as they neared Seto and Mokuba who hid behind his larger brother. Finally the dog stopped at Seto's feet but continued barking up at Yami.
"Back off!" Seto snapped and the dog wisely quieted and laid at the brunet's feet.
"I'm terribly sorry about that," the woman apologized while trying to catch his breath. "Yuki usually only acts that way when he's around cats."
"It's alright," Seto replied as he continued to hug Yami. He could feel Yami's heart still racing from the experience.
The woman and her rottweiler walked off and it was only then that Yami began to relax as he laid his head on Seto's shoulders. "Hey, it's okay. The dog is gone now."
"That thing wanted to eat me."
"You're safe now. I won't let anything happen to you." Gently he rubbed Yami's back in an attempt to calm him further.
"But why would it want to eat me? Dogs were respected just as much as cats, all animals were loved and treated well back home."
"You weren't a cat then."
"Maybe we should leave and finish getting everything later," Mokuba suggested. "Yami seems really freaked out."
Seto nodded his head and began carrying Yami out of the store with Mokuba following them. It wasn't until they got to the SUV when Yami finally released his hold on Seto so the brunet would be able to drive them home.
Thirty minutes later they were back at the safety of the Kaiba mansion.
Exiting the SUV, Mokuba took of running somewhere leaving the two rivals alone. Together they walked towards the mansion and Yami hung onto Seto's hand with dear life.
"Feel better now?" Seto asked the former Pharaoh who slowly nodded his head.
"Don't tell Malik and Bakura about what happened today."
Seto snorted. "As if I would ever talk to them."
"Aren't you going to do anything about them stealing all our food?"
"Our food?" Seto asked cocking an eyebrow at Yami.
"I meant your food."
"Good because your ass is moving out in a week and a half so don't get too comfortable."
Yami looked at Seto, ready to give a bitchy comeback but then he saw the smile on the brunet's face. He was getting teased.
"You're annoying."
"I deserve some credit, I saved you this morning."
"Only because I made you by jumping into your arms."
"I could have tossed you away."
"You wouldn't have done that." He then frowned. "Would you?"
"I didn't, did I? Now if it was Bonkotsu…"
Yami laughed. "I really don't think Jounouchi-kun would come to you if he needed someone to save his life."
"True. And if it was Bonkotsu, the dog would have tried to mate with him rather then chase him."
Again Yami laughed. "Probably."
Seto joined in with Yami's laughter as they continued to walk hand in hand towards the mansion.
A/N - Everyone remember to review!