9:04 pm
On the way home to Ryou's House
Ryou stared at the silently fuming Tristan. He squeezed his friend's hand as they pulled into his driveway. Feeling Tristan's hand twitch, Ryou let out his breath exasperated and released him. Firm fingers reached over and curled around his. Surprised, he looked up into dark chestnut eyes. //He's as bad about Seto as you are, my Bakura
//I do not have anything in common with that pointy headed ass.// Bakura growled.
//As you wish, pretty one.//
//RYOU!!!!//
Ryou smiled slightly at his other half exasperated tone, "Tristan, why are you so upset?"
"It... I don't like how this is going. I know... it's just that Kaiba seems to be very relaxed with rearranging everything to suit him. For example, this. He didn't ask if we wanted it, he just assigned it to us. He expects us to come to him beck and call. He... dictates stuff to us and tells us what we will be doing. And we obey. He may have been some high priest 5000 years ago but he isn't now!"
Ryou nodded, trying to open the car door. He stared at the bodyguard who stood next to the door, holding it for them. "No, he's a young man who is loyal, faithful, devoted to his family. A family that until recently consisted of himself and Mokuba. Mokuba, who is a child six years younger than Kaiba. A little brother who is content to listen and do as his brother says. He doesn't really know how to deal with people his age who are his equal. Everyone his age is either less knowledgeable or less organized. Except now, he has to work with us and he doesn't know how. Give him time to learn. He's not perfect and he's not the most knowledge one for once.
Tristan stared at him, half out of the car, "It's amazing."
"What?" Ryou wondered perplexed as he waited for Tristan to catch up.
"That you can be so forgiving... but I think that's one of the things I like most about you. I'm sorry to just rant. Hmmm maybe we should work on the project." Tristan stared at the house door opening. A guard stood there, bowing as he waited for them to enter. Beyond him was a long gold oak varnished table. Three matching straight back chairs sat on each side with one each at head and foot.
Ryou nodded, "Sure, for a little while. My mother was from England. We have tons of books on history and literature during that time. Father collected an extensive library. Mother used to read to me from them every night. I loved it, ancient tales of magic and mystery. Perhaps we can do a part on the literature of the time. If I remember we only have to study the history of our country during the time and there are many clues if you look for them in the stories and legends of the times."
Tristan smiled at him. "Sure thing." Tristan turned to the guard, "Who are you?"
//Who the damn is in our house?!//
"I am Mr. Tinatu. I am one of four guards assigned to young master Ryou. The four guards assigned to you, master Tristan, are on their way over. Since I know you have been at the hospital visiting with Master Joey, I took the liberty to prepare a meal. Please sit down, dinner is on the stove. I will now take my leave. Tinatu walked over to the front door, turning the lock on the knob, he closed the door behind him. A flash of light and two Ryou's stood there.
"Bakura."
"Pointy."
Ryou stared at the two of them and rolled his eyes. Moving his bookbag out of his way, he headed for the kitchen. "Let's eat first. Then Tristan and I will work on our project."
"I bet... where? In your bedroom?" Bakura growled and dropped into one of the chairs around the table.
Ryou came out holding three plates, precariously balanced. Tristan stepped forward and took two of them, eyes staring into warm chocolate brown eyes. "Let me help you, Ryou."
Bakura stared at them. Growling he stood up and reached for plate. His other half turned that sweet smile onto him. "Baku, this one is yours; I've given you more meat."
He took the plate and placed it on the table. Grabbing one of the plates, he held it up asking silently.
"That's Tristan's." Ryou took his plate from his friend and placed it next to Bakura's plate. He pulled out the seat on the other side of him, "Why don't you sit here."
Bakura pushed Tristan's plate towards the foot of the table. "How about here?"
Frowning, Ryou reached over and brought it to the proper seat. "Bakura." //You promised to behave. You said you had no problem with us working on the project, so what's wrong?//
//Why did you bring him back here!//
A light rose mantled Ryou's cheeks. //I didn't want to be alone.//
//I see.// Bakura stood up. "Go home, kelptl!"
//Bakura! I didn't mean it like that. Come back here!// Ryou leaned his head back.
"What's his problem?" Tristan shook his head and kept eating.
"What's your problem with Kaiba? It's all the same thing. You're both jealous. You're jealous of Seto because Joey wants to spend more time with him. Bakura is jealous of you because he thinks you want to spend time with me the way Joey spends time with Seto. And please don't be offended but I'm sick of both of you! Get over it. Joey and Seto are in love! Maybe it's lust, maybe after they have sex for a while they'll get over it. Perhaps you and Bakura should do the same!" Ryou leaned down and grabbed his bookbag. As he walked to the room, he called out, "Use one of the spare rooms."
Tristan stared as one of the two young men of his dreams walked away. Pissed, he takes the plates into the kitchen. Placing the plates in the refrigerator, he headed down the hall. Opening doors, exploring the small house. Soon he came upon the library. It seemed like a small piece of England in a house that was Japanese as anywhere. It was panel all in the same golden oak as the table. Hunter green, claret red, and ebony were present in leather couches and wingback chairs. The desk was ebony dark with a traditional green blotter. Above were two large hanging lights, turned off. In the library were scattered several small table, it was upon one sat a traditional green banker's lamp. It's dark wine green glass shade tilted down so the light was diffuse. It cast what little light it gave onto a claret leather wingback chair, a silver head peeking over the top of it. Silently, he walked up behind the chair and looked over the occupant's shoulder. A book lay opened on Bakura's lap. On it was a photograph of an ancient Egyptian tomb. In vertical lines were written several hieroglyphics. Tristan leaned forward, voice low, "You can read that?"
Bakura turned towards him, "Yes, it's a poem."
"What does it say?"
Bakura shut the book, holding his page with his thumb. "Why do you want to know?"
"Because you seem interested in it. And Ryou suggested that I try to ahhh find some common ground with you. So what are you reading?"
Bakura smirked, "Poetry, Ancient Poetry. Love Poetry. Gay Love Poetry. It's a tomb fragment of a healer in the palace, he was married to one of the clerks. Apparently the healer worked through a plague and saved many people but succumbed to the plague himself."
"Read me some?" Tristan asked quietly.
Bakura stared at him then gave a short nod. "Sit."
"Ntwh gkTh stnel."
Tristan rolled his eyes. "In this language please?"
"Nights I stay awake without hope
Lonely I walk the streets.
In front of your window
I spend my sad hours.
How I long to meet you again,
To find our old joy once more,
To give you my kisses again
So my black sadness will leave me
But there where you are in a strange place,
Who knows where you wander now?
I wonder if you still think of me."
Tristan moved closer. "Wow. Does it say who wrote it?"
"One of palace scribes no doubt. Why? Does it make you..." his tongue flickered out to moisten his pale lips as he leaned closer to the taller boy. "uncomfortable?"
Tristan leaned closer, his lips a breath away from Bakura, "No matter what you think, that's not why I'm so pissed off at Seto. He didn't make Joey gay, Joey always was."
Translucent lids blinked, and blinked again over dark burgundy orbs. Pale rose lips parted. Chuckling, Tristan leaned in to kiss Bakura softly. "He always was. Now me, on the other hand, I'm a very good at camouflage. Do you really want to know what Ryou told me to do?"
//Ryou! What the hell is this baka going on about?// "That pansy probably told you to spread your legs for me. That's in his nature. He's a pretty fuck, and he mews like a kitten!"
//Handle him yourself, Bakura!//
Tristan's hand came up to cup Bakura's cheek as the other flinched. Moving closer, he pressed the pale boy back into the chair. "Actually, he thinks you and I are fighting each other because we both want him. He told me that you and I should just 'fuck' and get it over with. One small problem, you're just too cute to fuck and forget so I think you and I will be spending some time together. Maybe even spend some time sharing Ryou. Would you like that? You inside him, taking him hard, while I take you? Is that why Ryou told me to 'fuck' you? Are you dreaming of me? Tell me, Baku-chan, how do you want me?" Pale lips met his and gave back as good as they got. Intensity increasing, he opened his mouth, his tongue flicking, tasting, begging entrance. Small sharp teeth bit into the firm flesh of Tristan's bottom lip. The coppery taste of blood filled his mouth. A cool breeze stung the bite mark as Bakura moved back. A drop of blood trickled over the sun darkened chin.
"Back off before I do more than just bite you." Amber feral eyes glared from pale lids. Lashes lost against the flesh.
"But you like my doing that, Bakura. You like it. I've noticed several... bites on Ryou. So I know it's not my exceptional body that makes you shudder. So what is it? Is it my interest in Ryou? Is that it? Ryou is... so pretty. He's delicate and soft; he's like all that is good in a woman with the body of man. Except you don't just want that, do you, Ba-ka-re? You sometimes want the strength, the hardness, the sheer presence of a man who knows he's a man. You want the jock, the wide shoulder, trim waist, muscles, and arrogance of a man. That's me. I can give you all that. This way you can have a soft, sweet, gentle man for you to protect and a strong, reliable man to be your friend and lover. Think about it." Tristan whispered as he licked Bakura's ear.
Bakura turned away, one hand against the other young man's chest. "Thinking is overrated."
A rich laugh drifted up as the taller boy fell backwards. Grinning, he grabbed Bakura's shirt as he fell, pulling him on top. Without a pause, lips met again. Teeth clashed, tongues dueled. Hands clenched and unclenched in hair. Bakura laughed drunkenly as he pulled back. His slim hands pushed Tristan against the plush hunter green carpet that blanketed the floor of the study. "Be a good boy and open those legs."
A smirk twisted on the other young man's face as he bucked up, the mound of his cloth covered cock brushed against the thin tan cloth of Bakura's slacks. Meeting Bakura's hardness with some of his own, he chuckled. "Make me, pretty boy. You're too used to Ryou just letting you take him, if you want me you will have to fight!"
"Mr. Kaiba? No, I don't believe so. We tried to prevent it. Especially after what happened with the Big Five. That particular route is blocked by a revolving 512 key strand. That key exists in only two places. Your private vault has one copy, whole and unbroken. The only other copy is broken into uneven parts and kept by nine others and myself. Each of us secured it in a secret place and we don't tell each other about it. In fact, we called in forty-nine employees at random and gave them each a piece of paper. No records were kept of who was called. Each of them were given slips of paper of odd shapes and neutral colors. I don't even know who has the other parts."
"I see... in any case, Kisigawa, I want you to meet with Dr. Hara at headquarters tomorrow. He may think of something from a medical standpoint that we may not."
"Yes, sir."
"Goodbye." Seto cut off the phone and leaned back. //So ghost, what should I do about Joey?//
* * *
2:17 PM
Inside Legendary Heroes
Rien, France
André sat down on the log and leaned back. The sun felt wonderfully warm. Shrugging out of his shirt, he fell into the leaves. //Damn, I would not mind just being here to relax, never mind to play Duel Monsters!//
A sudden noise and a beautiful dark haired princess ran up to him. Her hair fell in soft bangs over her rich blue eyes. She jerked back when she saw him, then noticed his hero gear. Running up, she hugged him.
//She is gorgeous, almost as beautiful as my best friend, Kasumi. You even have her eyes.//
"Oh brave hero," Her soft cultured voice whispered softly, "Please, I am the Princess Adina and I need help."
"Oh course, mon princess. I will be glad to help you, what must I do?"
"We must stop a war but first we need to make it through the labyrinth. Please... I know the way."
"Then lead on, beautiful one." André smiled and followed her. //Mon Dieu, she looks so much like Kasumi, but not as good a handful!//