Chapter Seven:

Seto: What? Where am I?

Yugi: Kaiba I'm so glad you're all right!

Seto slowly looked over at the excited voice for a second he could have sworn he saw two of Yugi before his vision cleared to reveal only one. His body felt as if it were pinned to the bed by metal spikes and every time he moved his eyes they hurt like hell. He couldn't help but remember the time he got into a fight with the scariest school bully in his class when he and Mokuba was placed in that orphanage. What was his name? Ah it didn't matter, he thought to himself. The guy was pushing all the kids around and thought he could do the same to him, but he was in for a surprise. But it wasn't an easy fight, the kid could really kick some serious ass. "Stand up and they back down . . . my . . . ass" Seto groaned to himself.

Yugi: Huh?

Seto looked around the room until his eyes rested once again on Yugi.

Seto: Yugi? What are you doing here? Where is here?

Yugi: Kaiba. You're on a ship that found you in the ocean. Your flyer crashed into the sea.

Seto was hit with a sudden panic. He shot up from his bed and was hit with a massive headache that sent him back down onto his pillow holding his head.

Yugi: Kaiba! You shouldn't move around like that! You're hurt.

Seto: Be quiet, Yugi!

Yugi couldn't help but feel a sting of hurt at Seto's harsh tone. With a touch of sadness he swallowed the pain, after all Seto has always in one way or another spoke out to him like that it isn't like it's gonna change over night.

Seto: My Blue Eyes flyer is gone!

Yugi: Kaiba you were just in an accident, be glad you're alive.

The doctor enters the room for a routine check up on his only patient and was surprised to see Seto awake.

Doctor: Well I see you are awake. Good, let me check up on you. Yugi could you wait outside?

Yugi: Sure doctor.

As Yugi waited in the hall Yami appeared to cheer Yugi up.

Yami: Good thing Kaiba is all right now, that's more important, right?

Yugi: Yes you're right Yami. Whatever I feel right now is unimportant. As long as he's okay.

As Yami prepared to finish their talk about Seto, Joey arrives.

Joey: Hey Yug., how's Kaiba?

'As if I care', Joey thought after the question.

Yugi: He's awake.

Joey examined his best friend closely and noticed something a little off about him. Maybe a bit of sadness in his eyes.

Joey: So Kaiba "the jerk" is awake doing what he does best huh?

Yugi: Don't call him a jerk Joey, he's just tired.

Joey: Whateva. Anyway Kaiba isn't what I came to talk about.

Yugi: What is it?

Joey: We're coming up on an island and there is a ship already docked near the island. Tea said it could be the guys we're looking for.

Yugi: Great, then we are close to finding out what those guys want. I hope we get to go on the island.

Joey: Me too. I've had my fill of the sea.

Yami: Partner, I wish to speak with Kaiba about the white stone he had on him.

Yugi: Right, I guess that would be a good idea.

The doctor comes out the room with a smile.

Doctor: Everything is fine, he wants to see Yugi.

Yugi, Joey, and Yami were all shocked. Joey tried hard to hold back his jealous thoughts, at least out loud but to himself was another matter. 'What does he want with Yugi? Are they bonded together suddenly because Yugi stayed cramped up in his room reading him stories? And did he say anything to hurt Yugi? I bet he did and he wants to say more! Yeah that's it!'

Joey: I need some air!

He storms off to the upper deck wondering why his feelings are getting so strong. He was always able to hold back with Yugi in the past but ever since they boarded this ship he's been driven by the urge to be with him, maybe even love him. Love him? He never really felt that way in the past? Did he? 'Did I?' he thought to himself as he leaned on the rails. 'I always cared about Yugi, but love him? Actually be in love like in the movies? No! ... Yes. I've always felt protective of Yugi, he's ma little buddy and there was a time I thought I could like him but I never thought he was my type, being so little and all and I didn't even know he was gay until I noticed his feelings for Kaiba at Duelist Kingdom . . . but then again what about Tea?' He couldn't stop the rush of thoughts suddenly attacking his mind. He needed another release, fast! And who better than Marik.

Yugi entered Seto's room and took his usual seat near his bed, he couldn't help but look down at his feet as if he committed some great crime and awaiting punishment. Seto stayed in a sitting position watching as Yugi took a seat.

Seto: I'm sorry.

Yugi's head shot up instantly, he couldn't believe it! Kaiba apologizing to him?

Yugi: It's okay you were tired.

Seto: You're right I am tired. The doctor told me about how you stayed by my bed the whole time.

Yugi blushed and turned his head away. 'Why are my feelings so transparent now? Why do I want nothing more than for Kaiba to take me in his arms and kiss me, but what about Tea? And why am I thinking of her now when she never crossed my mind the whole time Kaiba was injured?'

Yugi: Kaiba, did the doctor tell you where we were going?

Seto: Yeah, he told me as much as he could. But I think I need to hear it all from you.

Yugi: We'll we are on our way to Aaru, some kind of hidden island only the stones can lead us to, we're going to find out about Yami's past.

Seto: Who the hell is Yami?

In his effort to give Kaiba all the info he wanted he accidentally let it slip about Yami.

Yugi: Uh . . . well . . . You see he's a friend of mine a really, really close friend.

Seto: Oh I see. Boyfriend.

Yugi: What? Uh.

Seto: It's okay, you don't have to explain. I always knew you were a bit on the soft side.

Yugi: What!

Yugi could feel the raising anger boiling little by little. 'Is he being homophobic? What is he trying to say?'

Seto: Relax little Yugi, your secret is safe with me.

Yugi: Safe! What are you talking about?

'What! I can't believe this! Is he assuming that I would be in the closet if I were gay? Wait a minute, am I gay? What about Tea? I like her, I think I do, that kiss was the sweetest kiss I've ever had. But then again it was the only kiss I've ever had.'

Seto: Let me tell you about that stone I had.

Yugi: Wait a minute! You can't just switch the subject, let's clear this up.

Cutting him off without a care in the world, Seto continued on.

Seto: I was contacted by an unknown man who told me that he was sending me a Stone that is connected to me and my Blue Eyes. When I received the Stone, it came with instructions to meet him on Bairiki in Kiribati. I was on my way there when I think my engine was acting up and I went down. Bastard, I paid him good money to fix that engine!

Yami: Bairiki?

Yugi: And a connection with his Blue Eyes?

Yami: We must tell Isis immediately.

Yugi: Right!

Seto: That's all I have, I must have lost that white stone.

Yugi: No, I took it off of you when we found you.

Seto: Hm, is it too much to ask for it back?

Yugi: I think I should talk to Isis first, she has it.

Before Yugi could run out the door Seto calls at him to stop. Yugi looked back in mild surprise, was it another apology? 'Was he just teasing me?' Yugi's small amount of hope brightened up.

Seto: Since I might be in this stuffy room for a while, can you come back and see me when you can?

Yugi smiled.

Yugi: Sure, Kaiba.