Part Three – Dissonance – harsh, discordant, a lack of harmony. Also a chord that sounds incomplete until it resolves itself on a harmonious chord
"Do you want a drink, Yami? I'm opening a new bottle of soda," Yugi called out to him cheerfully. Usually he was crazy about the carbonated drink, and Yugi indulged his obsession by buying all the new flavors so that they could try them out together. He still vividly remembered the first taste of sugar and vanilla, seemingly magical on his tongue. Oddly, he didn't have a sweet tooth for anything else.
Now, Yami merely nodded and smiled, trying to hide his disinterest. Truth to tell, he was feeling a little tired right now. Not physically, of course, but merely the desire to be alone for a while with his confused thoughts. Of course, he could hardly do that at Yugi's party. It would be unforgivably mean to his light. Even if he wasn't enjoying himself at the party half as much as he had expected, he could at least pretend.
Yugi's grandpa had left them largely to their own devices, with a couple of warnings for Yugi not to make any messes or to let things get out of hand. Then he'd gone off over to one of his professor-friend's house, apparently feeling that it was safe to leave the place in their hands. Privately, Yami thought he might be overestimating their maturity by a bit. But Yugi had planned out everything, and Yami had helped him decorate and design and finish off a million little details, so he could really only have faith that all would go well.
Watching everyone, Yami could tell that it was a success. The party was lively and cheerful despite the fact that all the usual people were there, just dressed differently. It seemed like Yami was the only one who had felt apathetic all evening. He inwardly sighed, feeling just a little guilty for being disloyal; he liked Yugi's friends well enough, but…he couldn't help but yearn for more.
Joey had been at Mai's side all evening and he had to admit they made a nice couple in their own way. Mai complemented Joey perfectly, and it was easy to see that the two blondes were crazy about each other. Yami would have danced with Serenity, but Duke and Tristan made it clear that they didn't need any more competition for her time.
The music gave the atmosphere an energized feel, Yami had to admit. He'd danced once with Tea, but only because Yugi had given him that pleading look that he never could resist. He didn't want to ruin everything for Yugi, and he didn't understand himself why he felt so tense and irritated. He kept on looking around the room as if he expected someone to suddenly show up, and every time he caught himself looking over the faces of Yugi's friends again he became more annoyed with himself.
Yami supposed that he just didn't really fit in at the Christmas party. Oh, he enjoyed the gift giving and everything, but the day felt like any other.
/Cheer up, Yami/ Yugi told him now. /Can't you see the magic of Christmas?/
/I'm not unhappy…/
Yugi came up close to him, handing him a drink anyway. "But you're not having the time of your life, are you?" He pouted, and Yami smiled despite himself; Yugi looked adorable when he had that expression on, and they'd had many interesting conversations over the particular terminology.
/I don't pout/ his aibou said hurriedly, after taking just one look at his suddenly laughing yami and realizing the cause of his merriment. Yugi drew his face into mock-seriousness. "The party's for you too, Yami, and I want to know why you're not having fun!"
He was spared having to answer when Mokuba dashed up to them. The younger Kaiba had surprisingly fit right in even with everyone being so much older than he was. He hadn't even batted an eye earlier, when during a game of Truth or Dare Joey had demanded that Mai play a game of strip poker with him. As a joke, of course, but Yami had been surprised to see Yugi blushing more than Mokuba. If Kaiba just knew what corrupting presences his precious younger brother had been exposed to… Yami deliberately shifted away from that thought, suddenly feeling lightheaded as he inadvertently admitted to himself what was absent, and even more inadvertently admitted why it mattered to him.
"Hey, Yami, can I talk with you for a minute?" Mokuba said, voice almost drowned out by the sudden laughter from the other side of the room, where Joey was re-enacting Tristan's monkey days in Noah's virtual reality.
"Of course," he said automatically. Yugi gave him another suspicious glance and Yami smiled for his benefit, even though he still got the feeling that his light wasn't entirely satisfied.
Mokuba looked uncomfortable. "I mean…I'm sorry Yugi, it's just that I sort of have to talk to Yami privately."
"No problem," Yugi said, not in the least offended. He looked at Yami thoughtfully. He'd seen Yami looking around earlier. Several times, in fact. He'd wondered if he should've at least attempted to invite Kaiba, and then had decided not to because it surely would have put Yami on edge. He was fairly certain that he'd never seen Yami look even moderately relaxed in the other duelist's presence, and it would definitely create problems with Joey and the rest of the group. Judging by Yami's expression, it looked like he might just as well have invited Kaiba, though.
Yugi could only imagine the smirk that would've surely graced Kaiba's face had he known that his absence caused as much displeasure as his presence. Maybe Yami was looking for a challenge. Then again, it was Christmas Eve, there had to be more to it than simply that.
Mokuba led Yami away, and Yugi was left preoccupied with his thoughts. Could it be that his dark was attracted to Kaiba? He balked at the sudden thought, about to laugh it off, but despite its apparent absurdity, it made sense. It made sense in some twisted, logical way, and just like that, all the pieces seemed to fit just as well as the Millennium Puzzle had come together in his hands.
Yami hated Kaiba with a passion…Kaiba hated Yami with a passion… Yugi's mind inserted for each other and glued the hypothesis together with all the weird glares he'd observed during school, the way Kaiba stared at Yami and vice versa. He'd thought it was meant in an insulting way, considering that Kaiba stared at Yami as if he weren't there and as if there just happened to be some fascinating piece of Java code written on his chair.
He'd been pretty sure that Yami felt the same way too, but now that he really thought about it, his dark had never been vocal about his dislike of Kaiba. He knew that Yami held some sort of respect for the brunette and that Kaiba likewise held grudging respect for Yami. Was there something more that he'd been missing all this time?
Impossible. They seemed to hate each other so much...or had Yugi and his friends put that "hate" there because it seemed to fit so well? And Yami had hinted once that Seto reminded him of someone from his past, but Yugi knew something about that. He'd seen the tablets with carvings of the past High Priest dueling the Pharaoh. If that wasn't proof of some sort of betrayal and enmity, what was? Or had he misinterpreted what little Yami had shown to him?
There was such a fine line between love and hate…
Impossible.
Or was it?
xxxxx
"I have something for you," Mokuba said, taking a present out of a bag. He'd taken extra care to wrap it nicely, but it was still obviously his work.
"I don't understand," Yami said, a puzzled look in his ruby eyes. They'd all exchanged gifts earlier in the evening, and Mokuba had already given him something. All the packages were under the tree now because Yugi insisted that they waited until next morning to unwrap everything.
"It's not from me," Mokuba said quickly. Yami looked at him, wondering why he had a bad feeling about this. "It's actually from…Seto…" Mokuba didn't tell Yami that he'd found it in his brother's room, in the trash, where the sparkle of it amid discarded papers had caught his eye. Obviously his brother had bought it for one specific person in mind, but there was no way in hell that he would actually bring himself to give it to him, after all…
"What?" Yami's voice was incredulous and belatedly he realized that he might have offended Mokuba. The younger boy was standing there with a small half-smile on his face though, and his eyes were serious.
"I know you weren't expecting anything, and actually I wrapped it myself, but I know he wanted you to have it," Mokuba said in a rush. Besides, no one would be stupid enough to throw something like this away, no matter how rich one was.
"Well, uh…" Yami's mind scrambled for something to say. "Uh, thank you. Or thank him, I guess."
"Can you please open it a little later? I mean, not tomorrow, with the other presents. It's," Mokuba struggled to put his thoughts into words, "special. Just open it when I'm gone." It was also surety that Yami wouldn't try to return it, which Mokuba thought had a high likelihood. He didn't even know where on earth his brother had found something like that. But better in Yami's hands, where they belonged, than accidentally at the bottom of some trash pile.
Still bewildered, Yami nodded his consent and looked down curiously at the package. It was heavy but not very large.
"All right, then. Thanks for everything! I hope you like it!" With that, Mokuba headed back to join the crowd in a carefully planned retreat, satisfied.
Yami unwrapped the package slowly, carefully, feeling tense anticipation. Bracing himself for the impact of…what? It shouldn't have mattered so much to him, but it did. He wished he could have given Kaiba something, even an anonymous gift so the other would accept it. Still preoccupied with thoughts, Yami lifted the top from the sleek black case and for a moment he forgot to breath.
They lay there, gleaming true gold on a piece of black velvet. Twin cuffs in a deceptively simple design, but looking at it, a wash of memories overwhelmed him—he had worn such symbols of power when he was Pharaoh, and…
He stood before the masses and spoke the last words, raising his hands high above his head. The sunlight caught the metal, glowing golden rays shining out over his head; he was both god and king to his people, and the voices of the multitude had risen in a wordless tribute, a deafening roar of worship.
One by one they knelt, as if at some higher command; they feared and loved and it was the uniting of both these emotions that he evoked in them that made him the greatest ruler the land had ever known. To have such power…it was beyond the comprehension of most men, but in that moment he ignored it all, turning to his side where another stood. Ruby and sapphire caught each other for one brief moment, blazing—Set—then he watched as the High Priest shuttering away the turmoil in those stormy blue depths, and watched as he knelt, slowly, and only he had understood the full depth of that gesture.
He could not bear to see such pride in this expression of submission and at the same time it touched him, and woke desire in him, too. There was such strange intimacy found when they were surrounded on all sides. And then, without realizing it, he was at his lover's side and helping him rise, the gold on his wrists flashing in their movements…
The gold was cold against his skin but quickly warmed, and when he lowered his hands to his sides the shirt he was wearing concealed them. Oddly enough it gave him more pleasure to know they were there but others couldn't see it, a private wonder, as if they were a mark of possession. They were heavy, but he liked the heaviness, the familiarity of it echoing back to his past.
"Yami?" Yugi's voice jolted him back into reality and he wondered suddenly how much time had passed. "Are you all right?" His light had come back for him, no doubt wondering where he'd gone since Mokuba had rejoined the party. Yugi stared at him with some concern.
"I'm fine, Yugi," he managed, and for the second time that evening, struggled to put a convincing smile on his face. Yugi's expression told him just how transparent his attempt was, but thankfully he didn't press the issue.
"Well, it's pretty late and Mokuba's supposed to be home by twelve at the latest, so could you take him home?"
"Take him home?" Yami repeated huskily. Yugi thought he caught the shine of liquid in those crimson eyes and wondered what could have happened. Maybe it was just a trick of the light, but tonight hadn't been what he'd expected at all.
Duke had actually offered to take Mokuba home, but Yugi had covertly declined. Mokuba was the perfect link, and he was the perfect excuse for Yugi to attempt to throw Yami and Kaiba together and see exactly why the sparks flew.
"Just to make sure he gets home safely." And because I think there's more to this than meets the eye…Mokuba's not sure what's afoot, neither am I, but he certainly leapt at the suggestion.
"Right…" he conceded before he had actually thought about it, still staring at his wrists as if he could see through cloth and into the fabric of the soul. Yugi had the insane urge to go over there and find out what was so fascinating that hadn't been, before.
Then Yami realized that Mokuba was approaching, remembered what he'd just said, and seriously wondered what he'd gotten himself into.
xxxxx
They entered the mansion silently, and Yami thought it was a little unnerving how large yet utterly lifeless the place was. He had all be for dropping Mokuba off by the front gate and hightailing it back to Yugi, but Mokuba had other plans. It was a shame, because Yami really, really wanted to sit down and have a long talk with Yugi.
No, Mokuba had wanted Yami to come in and see his room, and since Yami hadn't ever been inside the Kaiba house, he didn't have a good excuse to decline. He was beginning to feel as if Mokuba and Yugi were in on some scheme with Yami being their puppet. Yami tried to tell himself that he was only being paranoid, but the uneasy feeling persisted.
On their way to Mokuba's bedroom they passed what must have been Kaiba's. The light under his door was on and Yami could hear soft music.
"Nii-sama plays the piano," Mokuba told him, seeing the surprised look on Yami's face. "Goza—it was required that he learned it very well, able to match a professional pianist. Even though he was forced to learn it, I think he likes it. I think it reminds him of old memories. He doesn't play often."
Yami didn't reply for a moment, surprised. That was Kaiba playing the soft, almost melancholy melodies that they now heard? If Mokuba hadn't seemed so certain, he would have laughed. He'd never thought of Kaiba in conjunction with music. It was so unlikely for Kaiba to be doing something so…human as to lose himself in music.
They finally entered Mokuba's spacious, but somehow still cozy room. The interior decoration was surprising un-childish, and Mokuba showed him everything, explaining that he and Seto had chosen everything themselves.
At this point Yami started laughing and Mokuba had to patiently wait for him to finish, puzzlement in his eyes. Yami couldn't really explain what was so funny. Kaiba, an interior designer…the thought was ridiculously entertaining. He wondered if he wasn't laughing more out of nerves than anything else. What was he doing here, after all? It was Kaiba's mansion.
Seeing that Yami wasn't about to share, Mokuba threw himself on his bed tiredly, but when he looked up at Yami his eyes were still bright. "I feel sort of guilty," he admitted. "It's Christmas Eve and Seto spent it all alone. I should've never asked to go, but he wouldn't let me stay with him after he found out. Promise me you'll go see Seto before you leave?"
"What?" This time, Yami just barely managed to speak in a normal voice. Was Mokuba never out of surprises? Ruby eyes narrowed suspiciously, pinning the kid with a direct gaze.
"It's all right if you don't," the younger kid said quickly. "It's just, tonight should have been special, you know?" His words were oddly reminiscent of Yugi's. Can't you see the magic of Christmas?
Yami hesitated, the appeal not completely lost on him, but warring with his natural instincts. He would be insane to try to approach Seto in his own house. On the other hand, there was also the overwhelming curiosity, and his feelings were still mixed up about the "present" Mokuba had transferred from Seto to him. He'd had some time to think about it all, and he couldn't possibly be able to keep the gift, considering that the cuffs were pure gold, and probably worth more that the entire Turtle Game Shop altogether.
And it seemed as if Kaiba hadn't wanted him to have it after all, so he couldn't in good conscience just accept the gift from Mokuba.
"I'll go. Just go to sleep, all right?"
Mokuba looked up at him sleepily and smiled. Yami thought it looked rather mischievous for that angelic face and it reminded him of Yugi again—when he planned something crazy for his poor, unsuspecting yami.
xxxxx
A/N: Please review? Please?