Disclaimer: Just own the words, not the folks.

Past My Door

Today is the day.

I needed to get Yami out of that room and today would be the day I did it. I know Seto promised that I wouldn't miss anymore school, but I just can't let this go on any longer.

Using my master key, I unlock the door and go in, expecting to see Yami still laying in bed or staring at the wall. Instead, I find the room completely empty. Panicking for a moment, I notice that the bathroom door is closed and hear the faint sound of running water.

Well, at least he's up. At first I plan to wait in the room for him, then figure he probably wouldn't appreciate that.

Heading down to the kitchen, I make a pot of coffee, having a cup myself before heading back to Yami's room.

"Come in," he calls when I knock on the door. As soon as he sees me, he frowns.

"Why aren't you in school, Mokuba?"

"I needed to make sure you were alright, Yami. School can wait."

"Seto will have my head if he knows you're skipping school for me," he admonishes.

'Seto'? When did he start using Nii-sama's first name?

He looks at the clock on his dresser.

"It's only 9:30. If you leave now, you can say you were late because you were sick from something you ate and Seto doesn't have to know you'd planned to skip," he suggests.

"Are you sure you're alright?" I frown at him.

"I'm fine, Mokuba. Or at least better. Thank you for what you did with the apartment. Seto took me to see it last night."

My eyes widen at that.

"He got you out of the room?"

He laughs.

"Your brother can be very…persuasive."

"I'll bet."

"It's almost 10, Mokuba. You really should get to school. I'll be okay. Actually, I'm meeting your brother for lunch today."

"You are?" I ask in amazement.

Nii-sama hasn't taken a lunch in years. I was right. Now that Yami's back, he will become more human. Maybe before I go off to college, I'll get my brother back.

"School, Mokuba," he reiterates sternly.

"Okay, okay. I'm going. See you later, Yami."

Quickly changing into my uniform, I hop in the Targa and head out. After using the excuse Yami gave me for my tardiness, I enjoy my day at school for the first time in months.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Another loud yawn escapes Seto's lips as we each lunch. Really as I eat lunch. Seto's had nothing but coffee since we got here.

"Are you going to eat?"

"Too tired," he mumbles.

"Why don't you just go home then?"

"Too much to do."

"I can't believe you're accomplishing anything in the state you're in."

"Hn. Shows how much you know. I've already negotiated four contracts, de-bugged one of my security systems, again, and updated my will."

"Updated your will? That's a bit…morbid, don't you think?"

"I also gave Minako her yearly evaluation."

"You didn't penalize her for the letters did you?" I frown. Seto can be vindictive when he doesn't get his way.

"Hn. I gave her a raise," he yawns. "Aren't you done eating yet? I need to get back to work."

"Well, don't let me stop you."

"Whatever. Just hurry up. I want to get a nap in before my board meeting at 2:30."

"Why don't you just go back now? I can get home okay."

"Fine," he mumbles, calling the waiter over with a snap of his fingers.

At the waiter's approach, all the sleepiness from his face and voice evaporates, leaving only the commanding CEO in its wake. He tells the waiter I'll be staying and to have the tab put on a certain card, then dismisses him with wave. Then he flips open his ever-present cell phone, instructing his driver to wait at the entrance for me and deliver me to the mansion once I'm done.

Another yawn and a slight stretch accompanies his mumbled, "Later, Yami," as he grabs his coat and scarf and exits the restaurant.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

'I can get home okay,' he said. Home. He called my house 'home'.

I look back at the idiots on my board, wondering why I'm here listening to them ramble on about nothing when I'd much rather be spending time with Yami. We still have a lot to catch up on. Last night was only the beginning of rekindling this friendship. We didn't have nearly enough time to talk. I still haven't told him how much I missed him and how glad I am that he's back. We haven't even had a chance to duel!

Speaking of dueling, where the hell did I put my deck?

"…don't you think so, Mr. Kaiba?"

Shit. Takahashi was talking to me again and I wasn't listening as usual.

"I mean the duel disks could be manufactured with…"

I know he is not brining up that plastic crap again. Does he want to be fired?

"…high quality plastic, so they wouldn't seem as 'cheap' as what that other company wanted to do, so…"

"Takahashi." I growl. "What part of 'no' did you not get the first time you brought this crap to me?"

"Well, sir, I thought you meant that you wouldn't want a cheap replica. But this new company promises a higher quality than what those others offered, so..."

"Maybe some time in Accounting would help you understand. You're dismissed," I command.

"S-sir," he stutters, eyes wide.

"Minako," I nod to my secretary.

"Yes, Mr. Kaiba?"

"Please note in today's minutes that Mr. Takahashi will be assigned to the Accounting department for the next 90 days. Also note that without a favorable review by his supervisor, he will not be returned to the board."

"Yes Mr. Kaiba."

"B-but…Mr. Kaiba…"

"You have two minutes to leave this meeting and report to Accounting or you will be looking for another job."

"Y-yes, sir," he stutters, quickly gathering his things and exiting.

"Now, what's next on the agenda?" I address to the remaining members.

Maybe Yami's influence isn't so good after all. Two months ago, I'd have fired him. I'm getting soft.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

What the…? Is someone spitting on me? What is that?

I open my eyes to see a bleary figure in front of me. I close them again to get my bearings and feel the spittle on me again.

"Stop spitting on me," I yell.

"It's alive," I hear Mokuba snicker.

Mokuba? What the hell? Where am I?

I open my eyes again, blinking and rubbing them to clear my vision to find Yami in front of me with a spray bottle. I guess that's what I felt. Good. I'd have had to kill whoever was spitting on me.

"Yami?" I mumble.

"Are you awake enough to get to your room?" he asks.

Am I? No. I'm not even awake enough to get out of this car. I hope I'm in the Limo. I'd hate to think I drove home like this.

"What time is it?" I mumble, moving to get out of the vehicle.

"2:30 in the morning," Mokuba replies. "The driver picked you up from work a little over an hour ago, but couldn't get you to wake up, so he came and got us."

That's right. I wanted to finish up that presentation before I left.

"You've been up almost 24 hours, Seto, after barely sleeping for the past few days. Your body finally gave out," Yami explains.

"Whatever," I mumble, still trying to get out of the car.

"Here, let me help you," Yami offers, putting down the spray bottle and taking my hand.

He gets me out of the limo, but I'm still too wiped to walk on my own, so he shoulders me.

"Mokuba, get his briefcase and computer. I'll get him upstairs," I hear him tell Mokuba.

My feet have become my own worst enemy and I find myself leaning heavily on Yami. He's actually pretty strong to be holding me up like this. I stumble on the first step and we fall against the wall.

"Easy, Seto," he commands.

Standing back up, my face slides through the top of his hair. Is that vanilla? Hmm, let me smell again. Yep, vanilla. Definitely not something from my house.

As he's steering me toward my bed, our feet get tangled and I hit the floor, Yami landing on top of me. He's really warm. I could sleep right here. Yeah. That's good. Right here on the floor. With Yami. As I roll to my side with Yami in my arms to get more comfortable, he screams in my ear.

"Kaiba!"

"Don't call me that," I mumble.

"Kaiba!" he yells louder.

Gods, why doesn't he just go to sleep?

A sharp pinch on my neck startles me almost awake.

"What the hell was that for?" I snap sleepily.

"Because you're crushing me," Yami grumbles.

I open my eyes to find Yami wrapped in my arms beneath me on the floor.

"Oh. Sorry, Yami," I murmur, letting him go and climbing into my bed.

Ooo, pillow. I grab the large, cushy item and pull it under my head.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

What. The. Hell?

Nii-sama on the floor? On top of Yami?

I'm sure my mouth is hanging open, but I don't care. I came up to see if Yami needed any help getting Nii-sama into bed since he stumbled with him on the stairs, but I didn't expect to see this!

"Kaiba!" Yami calls. Nii-sama's just holding him tighter.

"Kaiba!" he yells louder. Did Nii-sama just nuzzle him?

What. The. Hell!

Is this how Nii-sama got him out of the room? What did they do at the apartment?

Suddenly, Nii-sama lets him go and climbs into bed. Maybe he was just asleep all this time. Still, he was pretty enthusiastic with that…that snuggling with Yami. Maybe they've done this before. Maybe before Yami went away. No, they didn't have that kind of relationship then. Could they have one now? No, I think I'd have noticed that.

Oops, Yami's coming this way. I guess I should close my mouth now.

"Do you think he'd be mad if we called him in sick tomorrow? He really needs at least eight hours of sleep," Yami mentions with concern.

"I'll tell Minako that he's working from home in the morning, but may be in later," I reply soberly. He's right. Nii-sama has been pushing the envelope lately.

"Fine. 'Night, Mokuba."

"Goodnight, Yami."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

No matter how long I stare at the ceiling, I can't get the events of tonight out of my head.

Seto sniffed me. And nuzzled my hair. Twice. And then what happened in his bedroom…

I know I should dismiss it as sleep deprivation, but knowing he was operating from that state only makes it worse. Because in that state, like being drunk, you are acting without inhibitions, doing things you would do if you had no conscience controlling you.

Is that how Kaiba thinks of me?

I roll over on my side and close my eyes. Maybe this will make better sense in the morning.

Well, later today.