Chapter Twelve: A Simple Sleepover

I have learned why it is no one meets my gaze. It is because of that unspeakable night. I've heard the rumors, but I can't believe others would believe them.

Wheeler did this, of course. But how could that amateur have enough power to make it that I despise meeting the eyes of those around me whenever I am out in public?

I always thought nothing could hurt me so much, especially not lies. But lies hurt a lot when the truth is unknown.

Kaiba's birthday had been stiffly formal with the presence of Yugi. Or rather, it would have been such had Kaiba put in another appearance. The CEO, however, had returned to his room and refused to come out.

"I'm busy," he muttered when his brother came knocking.

"But, Seto, it's your birthday!"

"So what? You think the teachers cared that it happened to be my birthday when doling out the homework?"

Quieter, probably so the one spoken of wouldn't hear from wherever Mokuba had left him, he added, "But Yugi's here."

"Maybe he'll leave, then. Or else, you can entertain him. I already saw him in school, and that was enough."

Silence rested outside his door long enough that Kaiba was convinced his brother had somehow slipped away without a sound. So, he turned back to his software program he was designing.

"What about your birthday present?" The young vice president's voice was so mournful and quiet that Seto had to pause and wait for the words to sink in.

Closing his eyes, Kaiba opened them once more and looked emotionlessly at the screen. "If it's anything like that dragon pendant, I don't want it."

The steps came then, after a pause, and a sound that was suspiciously like a sniffle.

Kaiba received no gift from his brother that year.

The day following the birthday, the brothers were already back in their usual, known places. Sleep made old hurts fade somewhat, and the younger Kaiba was not known for holding grudges.

Mokuba asked Kaiba a question regarding part of the setup he was planning for the sleepover, and the CEO answered thoroughly and even with some curiosity of what his brother was doing. After all, they were brothers and brothers fought on occasion.

But neither mentioned Seto's birthday again.

The Friday of the party finally arrived. Mokuba was uncontrollable at breakfast, too antsy to sit still long enough to eat his cereal and toast.

"Is everything ready for tonight?" His dancing eyes wouldn't rest on anything or anyone for long.

"Yes, Master Mokuba. All is ready in the basement as per your request."

Seto warily looked at the butler who seemed a bit too pleased with himself when mentioning how everything was prepared in the basement. The CEO had been overseeing everything to make certain no one would be able to sue them for having a heart attack, but it was likely he'd have to check once more to make certain nothing had changed with the final preparations.

"Better eat something, kiddo. You won't last through the day with only two bites of toast."

"My stomach's too quivery to eat! Why can't school already be over?"

Giving a mock bow, Kaiba said, "I apologize, little master. I have great power, but I'm afraid I can't cancel the school day for a wish that a slumber party comes sooner."

Making a face, Mokuba tried to eat a little more of the crispy bread instead of arguing more with his brother. Seto always seemed to win, anyway, and it was doubtful that even the inclusion with some of his vocabulary words he'd come out on top. He always slipped and used one incorrectly somewhere.

Mouth starting to curve, Kaiba flicked the newspaper back up before his face, sipping his cup of coffee.

The butler and the other servants of the mansions whisked out of sight, no doubt going to put the finishing touches on the surprise in the large basement.

Just twenty-four more hours until he could kick the gang out of his house and not ever have to contemplate them returning here again…twenty-four hours was too long to think about. At least he'd be working on a project during most of that time or living in a locked room as far from the dweebs as he could.

"You'll come and help me with the haunted house, won't you, Seto?"

Mokuba had nearly read his mind, and abruptly, guiltily, he put down his coffee and paper. His first word nearly a cough, he burst out, "What? You need my help? This was your idea, Mokuba."

"I know. But it'd be so much fun if you were there to help me."

His big eyes were focused entirely on Kaiba's face, and despite himself, the teenager felt his resolve wavering before him like a mirage in the desert. "Well…if you want me for my geniusness, who am I to decline?"

"Seto, 'geniusness' isn't a word."

"Who said?"

"Me."

"But I'm the genius here."

"Not a perfect one, evidently."

"…I'm hurt."

"No you're not; you're just annoyed that I knew that wasn't a word."

"It is a word. I used it, didn't I? What word from my mouth wouldn't dare be in the dictionary?"

Sighing, Mokuba gave up. But when his brother was busy putting aside the paper and draining his coffee, Mokuba clambered over to the closet and pulled out the dictionary.

Genius loci…genocide.

No "geniusness."

He had to be sure.

Joey stopped outside his first hour class, leaning around to look at Yugi.

"What d' ya dink de little guy has planned for us?"

Nervously, Téa caught up to them and opened the door to the room with one hand, breathlessly shoving her hair out of her face with the one holding her books.

"What are you guys bringing?"

The guys gave her clueless looks, like such a dumb question had never been asked before.

"Eh? My bag, I guess."

Yugi shrugged. "What else do you need?"

Groaning, Téa went to her seat, muttering under her breath something about how guys would never get it. Yugi and Joey shrugged at each other before sitting down and beginning to debate what Mokuba would include in his "night of thrills."

"I have t' admit, it worried me a bit knowin' he was plannin' someding kind of like his brudda did before, but I trust de li'l guy."

Yugi nodded. "Uh-huh. I know what you mean. But I think it's going to be a great night. Too bad Bakura is going to have to be working on his project some of the time. Hey, how far are you on that, Joey?"

"Don't ask, and I won't scare ya. Trust me, ya don't wanna know."

Grimacing, the two shared looks of horror on remembering the pain the project had caused, and they looked sadly at Bakura who was alert and readying himself for the day's class. He cared a little too much about his grades if you asked Yugi, but it still didn't help that he was paired with Kaiba who wouldn't accept anything less than perfect. The two just wouldn't get along very well.

The teacher entered the room, shutting the door ominously behind him. On his face, making him appear more related to the phylum of insects than humans, was a pair of goggles. His eyes gleamed out at them all in a sense of delight that was far too much for the class of wearied students. Whatever experiment was planned in this physics class, no doubt, the teacher and the proverbial geek would enjoy it. And only those two.

Sighing, Yugi and Joey stopped chatting and faced the front of the class, catching the warning about needing to wear goggles. What was this, chemistry? Why the protection?

They soon learned. A test of projectiles and how one could measure what speed and direction it was going according to other factors.

Joey looked at Yugi and Yugi returned the same glance.

"…"

"…"

"I dought wid the projectiles, it'd be interestin', but…"

"Yeah. This is going to be a very boring class."

As it turned out, none of the workers needed any extra help with the haunted mansion setup in the basement. They all knew their roles and were prepared for the night to begin, so even if he had desire it, Kaiba wasn't required. For now, that pleased him fine. He wasn't about to inform his brother about it, though.

As far as he was concerned, Mokuba wouldn't even realize he was never in the basement helping him out. Most helpers had to wear masks, even if Kaiba were sure his mere face would be enough to force Wheeler to wet his pants. So, Seto was going to try to stay in his room all night to avoid the temptation to throttle those who were going to be "guests" in the one place he thought was safe from such infiltrations by inferior interlopers.

But Kaiba would most certainly be in the basement that night. Everyone would. Everyone invited and some uninvited and unwanted.

A/N: Thanks again to all who reviewed (Garowyn, Tawnykit, Mystical Sand, morbid.gasoline, and Heather)! And thanks for correcting me on the game, morbid.gasoline. What a foolish error of mine...And Mystical Sand, I thought I was known for being able to ask the most questions. Congratulations; you have passed me by. bows I do like to see what you're thinking! Helps spur me on in various ways as well. You are right; the last two journal entries are out of order, but I did not mean for them to be that way. I'll correct it; thanks once more. Garowyn, Heather, and Tawnyit - don't worry if you don't find time to review at all. I'm grateful just that you're still reading. Thanks so much for your wonderful words!