Disclaimer: Just own the words, not the folks.

Taking the Time

"Ooooohhhhhhh Shiiiiiit!" I yell tightening my grip around him as Seto opens up the throttle on the UD (Ultimate Dragon, the nickname he gave his Moto Guzzi V7 Ippogrifo motorcycle) and we careen down a steep hill on our way to the vacation house in the mountains. If he keeps this up, I'm going to have soiled underwear and he's going to have some broken ribs.

And I thought riding with Mokuba was dangerous and terrifying!

Thankfully, as we get back to a flatter place on the road, he eases back on the throttle and I loosen my grip. Not that he's going slow, just slow-er. Turning my head to the right, I watch the scenery go by with interest. It's really beautiful out here. I wonder if Kaiba picked this place. I can't imagine him traveling out this far to scout for anything.

Then again, I can't imagine him taking a vacation, yet here we are, about 30 minutes from spending Christmas through New Years' out of town.

I think Seto's been replaced by a pod person.

Craning my neck to check behind us for Mokuba, since I can't loosen my grip for fear of falling off, I become concerned when he's not there. That is until I hear the familiar sound of his bike on our left. I look over just in time to catch his head tilt forward in challenge and Seto's nod in assent. I don't need to see their feral grins to know that they're there. Moments later both brothers take off like bats out of hell while I concentrate on keeping my underwear clean.

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"I didn't know you were such a wimp, Yami," Seto teases as Yami hovers over the toilet. He'd lost his lunch the moment we got to the house. It's a good thing there's a bathroom in the front hall.

"Fuck, Kaiba! You nearly killed us!" He yells at Nii-sama.

"Nonsense," Nii-sama dismisses.

"We almost ran off the road, Kaiba!"

"We were no where near running off the road, Yami. I'm always completely in control of my UD. And stop calling me Kaiba."

"Kaiba, Kaiba, Kaiba," he taunts and Nii-sama starts moving toward him, glaring.

"Careful, Kaiba," Yami emphasizes, "You don't want to get too close. I could throw up on you. Maybe I want to throw up on you!"

Nii-sama stops in his tracks then sweeps out of the room in a huff.

"Are you alright, Yami," I venture.

"I will be," he groans. "Actually, Seto's right. I am a wimp."

"You're not. He was going really fast today. In fact, this is the first time he's ever beaten me racing and we've been doing it for years."

Truthfully, I've never seen Nii-sama ride with that much enjoyment before. He was actually having fun.

All of a sudden, it hits me; I think he was showing off for Yami.

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While Yami prays to the porcelain god, I take the time to check out the rest of the house.

I haven't been here in years. I think the last time was after Mokuba's friend died in a car accident and he needed to get away for a few days. He was what, 13? Yeah. He'd just turned 13. His school was off for summer vacation. Has it been that long since I took any time off? Almost five years?

Actually, I don't really know why I'm here now. I guess I just wanted to do something nice for Yami. He'd seemed so down as Christmas got closer. I guess he'd probably planned to spend the time with his 'friends'. He'd probably been looking forward to it for years. But those assholes had to ruin it for him.

After making sure all five of the bedrooms are clean and laid out perfectly, and that our luggage had arrived as requested, I go down the back stairs to make sure the kitchen is fully stocked with the food I ordered and all of the necessary cooking utensils. I don't really know why Mokuba wanted to cook this week instead of eating out or having food catered, but I'll go along. After all, it's been a while since I exercised my baking prowess. I expect Yami to leave here with at least one cavity by the time I'm done. And after Mokuba feeds him, he'll probably need a shoehorn to fit into those leather pants! Reflecting on the last time I saw him in those pants, two days ago, I have to say he's close to needing one now.

Making my way out of the dining room with the solid mahogany setting for eight, I walk down the hall and into the expansive entertainment room and am pleasantly surprised by the eight foot Christmas tree. I smile to myself, recognizing Mokuba's decorating handiwork. I remember the first time he pulled out those blue and silver, dragon-themed lights and trimmings.

He was eleven. I was sixteen. Gozoboro had jumped out of the window just a month and a half before. I'd been driving myself hard to transform Kaiba Corp. and hadn't even gone shopping for presents for him.

Early Christmas Eve morning, he woke me from my usual position of slumped over my desk in the study and drug me downstairs, making me keep my eyes closed as he led me into the living room.

This was before Yami had shattered my heart, but the sight of that tree, fully decked in silver and blue with Mokuba's Blue Eyes White Dragon drawing on a sheet of notebook paper as its crowning glory almost had me in tears. Every year after that, he'd put the tree up and update the picture somehow.

I smile in remembrance and joy at the sight of the newest version of the tree's crowning glory, a detailed, 11" x 14" in., full color painting of my Blue Eyes Shining Dragon in attack mode.

There's no doubt about it, I have the best little brother on the planet.

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Once I'm able to pull my head out of the toilet and have rinsed my mouth and wiped my face, Mokuba gives me a tour of the house.

The living room is obviously for 'show' as the furniture in it doesn't look like it's ever been touched, the table in the dining room looks like it costs more than I'll make at the museum in a year, the kitchen must have every state-of-the-art gadget there is as well as a mouth-watering assortment of food already in the fridge, but the best room of all is the entertainment room.

When I see the huge Christmas tree and its unusual, but fantastic topper, I gasp in surprise.

"Wow!" I manage eventually.

Seto steps beside me, arms folded, gazing at the tree fondly. A small smile tugs at his lips when he says, "Mokuba did a great job, didn't he?"

"Yeah," I smile.

We stand in silence for a few minutes, admiring the tree. Sequestered among the silver and blue garland are hundreds of blue, silver and white lights. Some are steady, some are blinking, some are "chasers", but the bulk of them seem to be pulsing along to a medley of Christmas carols. It's truly enchanting.

"Sorry if I scared you, Yami," Seto inserts, "but I really was completely in control of the motorcycle the whole time."

"I know," I sigh, turning from the decorated masterpiece to look up at him. "I guess I've just gotten used to a slower pace over the last four years. I'm sure I'll be fine on the way back."

"We'll see about that," he smirks. "I'm taking the Katana back, Mokuba's taking the Turbo. And trust me when I say you'd rather ride with me."

Whoa, Seto warning me about riding with Mokuba? Definitely advice I should heed. Though it would be nice not to worry about riding with Seto either.

"Any chance that I could just ride back in a limo? Or maybe you could give me a car to drive back," I suggest.

"You drive?" Seto turns to me, eyebrow raised in query.

"How old do you think I am? 12? Of course I drive!"

"Hn."

"What?"

"C'mon. Let me show you to your room. I'm sure you're pretty worn out," he concludes, heading for the stairs.

"Whatever, Kaiba."

He snorts at my tease and leads me up the stairs.

His is the largest bedroom, of course, with Mokuba's directly across from it and mine right next to Mokuba's. I don't even take off my clothes before flopping onto the large, soft bed.

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Wow. They didn't even notice I was in the room.

It's so obvious, but I bet they don't see it at all.

Seto and Yami just click together. I knew that they were close friends before and that they understood each other very well, but I didn't expect to see this nearly complete synchronization between them. And I think other feelings are coming into play between them as well.

I wonder how far things will go.

And to think, none of this would have happened if Minako and Miss Aoi hadn't kept those letters.

I'll have to thank both of them personally when we get back.

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My leg is buzzing. No, it's vibrating. Something in my jeans' pocket is vibrating. What could be vibrating in my pocket? Oh yeah, phone.

"Hello?" I mumble sleepily after fishing the device out.

"Yami?"

Great. Yugi again.

"I'm too tired to deal with you, Yugi," I mumble.

"I just wanted to say Merry Christmas."

"You've said it. Now good-bye."

"Wait, don't hang up! Jii-chan wants to talk to you! Hold on."

A few moments pass before I hear Jii-chan's greeting on the other line.

"So, how are you, Yami?"

"I don't want to talk to him right now, Jii-chan," I reply, sitting up on the bed and stretching to wake up further.

"That's fine. But it doesn't answer my question."

"I'm okay."

"You sound tired."

"I just woke up."

"Oh. Well, Merry Christmas, Yami."

"Merry Christmas to you too, Jii-chan."

"So what are you doing today?"

"I don't know yet. Seto and Mokuba haven't told me. I only found out we were coming here when I called you Wednesday."

"To the house in the mountains?"

"Yeah. It's really nice, though the drive here was a little stressful."

"What happened?"

"The Kaiba brothers own really fast motorcycles."

"I see." Pause. "Is there something else, Yami?"

Pause.

"I don't know, Jii-chan. It's just that… Well lately, things between me and Seto…"

"What is it, Yami?"

"Yami! Dinner!" Mokuba calls from downstairs.

"Okay, Mokuba!" I call back.

"Never mind, Jii-chan. It's nothing. I have to go."

"Alright. I'll talk to you later, Yami. Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, Jii-chan. I'll call you tomorrow."

I hang up and head down to eat. I wonder what they've had catered? As I come down the back stairs, enjoying the smell of whatever wonderful meal they had brought in, I am shocked to see Seto pulling what looks like a large pan of brownies from the oven.

"Hey Yami!" Mokuba calls from the large kitchen table, set with lots of food.

I'm distracted by the mouthwatering meal before me.

"I hope you're hungry! I'm afraid I got a little carried away and made quite bit of food. I guess it was because I haven't cooked in a long time," Mokuba concludes.

"You cook?" I mutter dumbfounded.

"Very well," Seto inserts. "He just hasn't had a reason to for a long time."

I look back at Seto who's placed the pan of brownies on a cooling tray.

"Did you make those too, Mokuba?" I question, sure that I must be still asleep and dreaming all this up.

"No, I made those," Seto responds with a smile.

Oh yeah, definitely a pod person.

Without commenting on anything else, I sit down and enjoy the scrumptious meal figuring that when I wake up from this dream tomorrow morning, I'll at least be well fed.