Chapter 4

Malik settled into his desk with a contented sigh. It was finally Friday, and after this class he'd be free for the weekend, with nothing to do but relax with his friends until five A.M. or so on Monday, when he could wake up and finish his homework at the last minute.

The blonde set his bag on the floor and began pulling out his books, smiling when he saw the binder he'd spent most of the week decorating. The pictures he and his friends had taken the week before were pasted liberally atop the pink contraption, with the words "Fab Four" written in silver glitter across the top.

All in all, it was a little flamboyant. But Malik didn't care; he was gay, after all, so why shouldn't he enjoy it? Besides, he liked looking at the pictures of his new friends; it gave him something to do when his classes got too boring. The blonde snickered as he examined the pictures of Bakura in pigtails. These were enough to entertain him for weeks.

Malik was surprised how easy it had been to make friends here; he had been worried that he would be alone for weeks, with nothing to do but sit alone in his dorm room and paint his toenails, feeling sorry for himself. All his friends from high school had left the city, gone off to colleges in other states, including his ex-boyfriend Rishid, who had broken up with the blonde shortly after graduation. Not that Malik minded all that much; he was ready for new friends, new experiences, and once in college he had thrown himself into the social scene right away, only to find everyone else there doing the exact same thing.

Which, of course, made things much easier. And now Malik had his adorable little twin friends to fawn over… and Bakura, who wasn't altogether horrible. Sighing a bit, the blonde freshman stretched out a slim finger and idly traced the picture of Bakura and himself. The white-haired male was really very attractive, if a little surly and perverted, and Malik might have gone for him if he wasn't with Atemu. The exotic little twin had Bakura wrapped around his little finger already, and Malik had to admit it was cute, if somewhat disappointing.

Oh well. He still had Yami, and Yami let Malik fawn all over him and squeeze him all he wanted. That was a valuable friend.

"What the hell is that? Is that your binder?"

An incredulous voice snapped Malik out of his reverie, and he glanced up to see a tall, brunet classmate with brilliant blue eyes staring at the binder with evident disgust. "Oh, hello, Kaiba," Malik chirped. "Yep, this is my binder. I decorated it."

"I can see that," the other drawled. He stared hard at the pictures for a long moment before shaking his head minutely and heading toward his usual seat at the back of the classroom.

Malik scooped up his books and followed. "Don't you like the pictures, Seto? Want to look at them some more? There are some good ones of me and Yami!" He plopped into the seat beside the brunet.

"Don't call me Seto, I barely know you. And I don't know Yami, either, so why the hell would I want to look at pictures of him?"

The blonde shoved the binder in Seto's face, pointing at a picture of himself kissing Yami's cheek. "Yes you do! You talked to him at that party last week, remember? You remember!"

Seto yanked the binder out of Malik's hands with a snarl. "Will you stop pestering me? If I remembered every stupid freshman I talked to for two seconds by the punch bowl at a frat party…"

"HA!" Malik crowed. "See? You do remember!"

The brunet scowled and began to make a nasty retort when the professor's voice floated in from the front of the room. "Alright, class, it's time to begin. Now if you'll remember, on Wednesday we were discussing…"

Malik turned his attention to the woman, idly thanking Seto when he handed back the binder a moment later. He didn't notice two of the pictures missing.

"Today we get to start a new section I'm sure all of you will enjoy, Human Sexuality. We will go over the evolution of sex based on the religions of different cultures.

"Even dating all the way back to the Paleolithic times, we have found evidence of sexual rites painted on the wall of caves in Europe. Also in the caves, we have found statuettes of women, usually displayed as pregnant. Their people were later called the 'Mountain People of Rhea', the mountain goddess, and mother of Zeus and Hera by Ancient Greeks.

"Now before we get further into the studies, can anyone tell me who, according to the Ancient Greeks, was given 'fertility rights'?"

The middle-aged professor stopped and looked over his intrigued students, choosing one to answer his question. "Ah, Mr. Kaiba."

With a sigh, Seth shifted slightly in his seat as he looked up and replied. "Men. Zeus was said to have a womb in his penis and therefore gave birth to the gods."

"Yes, and because of this men were considered above women. What else was considered the right of men because of this belief?"

The room went quiet; everyone seemed to wait for someone else to supply the requested answer, when suddenly a strong, proud voice interrupted the silence.

"Rape by 'right of domination'. It was very common for men to rape prostitutes, slaves, and even their own wives."

"Correct Mr. Mutou."

Seth snorted, not looking at either the teacher or Atemu and murmured, "Kinda hard to rape someone whose profession is sex and would lay down for a piece of bread."

Several girls gasped and Atemu turned to look at him with an amused eyebrow raised. "So you think that men or women who make a living selling themselves can't be raped? And you think they enjoy being forced against their will? Possibly beaten?"

"Well then they shouldn't choose it as their job."

"I see," Atemu said with a frown on his face. "So if a woman needs to support her child and taking up that profession is the only way to do it because she's uneducated, has no family support or her old man is useless, then she's asking to get assaulted?"

Seth could feel every single female eye on him, as well as the professor's, but at the moment he didn't care. All his thoughts were on the smug-looking, crimson-eyed Latino sitting several seats away from him. How dare this person question him in front of everyone like this? "No excuse. They should educate themselves so they could get another job."

"But Seth, you forget, back then women were not allowed to be educated the same as men. So some of the ladies had no choice. You aren't thinking properly."

Seth growled, balling his hands into fists, almost snapping his pen in half. Him not thinking? Hell he had the most intelligent mind out there! "Why are you sticking up for the women Atemu? Are you sure aren't one yourself?" Ok, well that was a stupid comeback, but damn this guy grated his nerves to the point he couldn't think straight anymore.

"Mr. Kaiba, please refrain from making personal insults in my class. I do not mind the debating…."

Seth was half listening to the man; more or less keeping his eyes and ears on the one that was contradicting him. And it seemed Atemu wasn't paying attention to the elder either, because he stood up, crimson locking on to azure, and smirked at him, but asked his seating partner a question.

"Bakura, did I look or feel like a female to you last night?"

"Mr. Mutou!"

Snickering at his friend's lack of shame, Bakura looked around his partner and directed his comment straight to Seth. "Nope, you were and still are one hundred percent male. Something I thoroughly enjoyed finding out."

Growling, Seth tightened his fists even more, finally snapping his pen and made to stand up, ready to punch both of them square in the jaw.

"Seth Kaiba, Atemu Mutou and Bakura Williams that is enough! Now I suggest you three leave my classroom and come back when you can properly behave."

With an icy glare sent to the two punks, Seth picked up his bag and stomped toward the front, pausing long enough to throw the broken pen away, before he stomped out of the room and into the hallway. Behind him, he heard the door pull to and he whirled around to look at two grinning faces.

"You think you're cute don't you? Contradicting me like that in front of the whole class?"

Atemu just continued to grin as he handed his book bag to Bakura. "Cute? No. That's one word that doesn't describe me. Besides, you're just sore that I made you look like a fool in there."

Seth's left eye began to twitch in anger and annoyance as Atemu began to walk towards him, a definite sway to his hips. And for the first time he took notice at what the other was wearing. Tight white T-shirt showed off taut muscles, form fitting blue jeans hung low in his hips and the sneakers he wore made no sound on the tiled floor as he approached. Glancing back up to the other's face, Seth found that his breathing was faulty when he looked into those exotic, alluring eyes. Such a fascinating color, beautiful deep crimson, closely resembling the color of freshly spilt blood. Absentmindedly, he wondered it was some kind of bad omen.

"Seth," his deep voice purred, causing him to snap out of it and back up till he was forced against the wall, dropping his bag to the floor. He narrowed his eyes and Atemu stopped just inches away from him. "Lets role play shall we? I'm the hooker, you're the John."

"Excuse me?" he asked, slightly disturbed. He looked from the sultry Atemu to the white-haired fiend snickering across the hall. "Is this some sort of joke?"

"No, joke Seth." Atemu reached over and lightly ran his fingers over Seth's dark blue T-shirt covered chest. "Just some role playing to prove our points."

Eyeing the other man warily, Seth was beginning to wonder just how sane Atemu was. "You're crazy."

"Hmm, possibly," Atemu replied while leaning forward and pressing his body close to the taller man. He let his hands trail upward until they were fisted into chestnut colored locks and before the other could protest, he pulled Seth down until their lips met.

Shock was the first thing that ran through him. This little man dared to get this close to him? He was about to push the other off of him when he felt a leg slip between his own, casually rubbing against his crotch. A gentle nip at his bottom lip caused him to open his mouth and he closed his eyes, body going on autopilot, responding wholeheartedly to the smaller man. God, that lithe body was so warm against his, his mouth perfectly wet and enticing as he explored it with his tongue and lips.

With a low growl, he grabbed Atemu by the waist and spun them around until the Latino was back against the wall and Seth was pressed against him, demanding more contact from the other. Their bodies were so impossibly close that each of them could feel the effects they were having on each other. And Seth was in heaven right now. The one person that had captured his attention right from the beginning was here, kissing him, rubbing up against him, and they were the only two in the world right at that moment. Their breathing was erratic; hands were roaming on their own accord and damn it felt so good….

Suddenly, Seth stumbled backwards when Atemu's hands pushed him away rather forcefully. Confused, he looked at the other and stared in disbelief when Atemu said one word.

"No."

"What the hell!"

Somewhere behind him he could hear Bakura laughing his ass off, but Atemu was just looking at him with an unreadable expression, licking his kiss-bruised lips. There was something flickering in those seemingly emotionless crimson eyes but it was so quick he couldn't catch it.

"I said no. So the next move is up to you. Are you going to force me to continue?"

"WHAT! What the hell makes you think I would force you to do something?"

"So, you are not going to rape me right?"

Seth narrowed his eyes, "You are fucked up in the head."

"Just answer the question." Atemu said as he walked past Seth to Bakura, taking his book bag back.

"That's a stupid question. Of course I wouldn't rape you, you're not worth it."

Atemu just shrugged his shoulders, unaffected by the remark, as Bakura wrapped an arm around his waist. "So let me get this straight, you – the John – said you wouldn't force yourself on me –the hooker – because I said no?"

"Yes! That's what I said, I wouldn't accost you just because the hooker said no…oh."

Atemu grinned at Seth's annoyed look, "I made my point, case closed."

Seth stared in disbelief as Atemu and Bakura walked away from him. Finally he seemed to snap out of it with a glare at the empty space before him and snarled. He had just been made a fool of and was not pleased at all. He would get Atemu for this; after all, this was war.

As soon as his class ended, Seto hurried out the door, trying to lose himself in the crowd before Malik could catch up to him. He didn't know if the blonde had seen him peel the pictures from his binder, but Seto definitely wasn't going to stand there and wait around for him to figure it out.

"Hey Seto! Wait up! Wait!"

Seto groaned inwardly. Too late.

"Wait! I need to ask you a question," Malik ordered breathlessly as he finally caught up to the brunet.

Or maybe not… The sophomore raised an eyebrow as he noticed the other's wide smile, excitement written all over his face. He looked far too happy to be after his stolen pictures. "What?" Seto asked gruffly.

"You're rich, right?"

"I don't see how that's any of your business," the brunet responded dryly, though surprised at the question.

The shorter male puffed out his chest. "Well. I thought you should know that I'm pre-law. You're rich. And rich people need lawyers, so," he poked himself in the chest with a thumb, "I'm your man."

Seto fought the urge to laugh in his face, deciding to go with the slightly more polite response. "What in the seven hells gives you the idea that I would ever hire you as my lawyer?"

Malik just grinned. "I'm going to specialize in business law. Majoring as an undergrad in business. And unless I'm mistaken, you're going to be a nice fat suit-wearing business mogul as soon as you get out of school, so we'll have lots of classes together. Get to know each other pretty well. And wouldn't you rather have a lawyer who knows you?"

Seto scowled. "No, I'd rather have a lawyer who wasn't clinically insane."

"All the more reason to hire me!"

"Listen, you—"

"Burbujas?" A soft voice from behind Seto interrupted his insult, and when he and Malik both turned to see who had spoken Seto's eyes widened and a hand reflexively went to the pocket of his stain-resistant Docker's pants – where he had hidden the stolen pictures. Yami, the slender, spiky-haired freshman whom Seto had been thinking about for the past week, was standing there smiling up at him. "I thought I saw you getting out of class. Do you want to come to the cafeteria with me and get something to eat?"

A strange sensation resembling heartburn rose up in the brunet's chest as he looked down at the slim young man before him wearing tight, paint-splattered jeans and a t-shirt with the name of some beach printed across the chest. Was Yami asking him out? Of course, it was only to the school cafeteria, and the other was a little more casually dressed than Seto would have preferred for their first date, but he supposed one had to start somewhere. Smirking, Seto opened his mouth to respond with a carefully unenthusiastic yes, when he was interrupted again.

"I'm sorry, Yami, I can't," Malik sighed. "I need to go back to my dorm and start getting ready if we're going somewhere tonight."

Yami's beautiful scarlet eyes widened in surprise. "But Malik, it's not even three in the afternoon!"

"I need time to exfoliate." Yami laughed and Seto scowled as the blonde winked broadly at them before strolling off toward his dorm. "Play nice together, kiddies!" he called over his shoulder, leaving Yami and Seto alone.

When the brunet turned back toward Yami, he found the other gazing up at him curiously. "I know you, don't I? Are you one of Malik's friends?"

"I wouldn't exactly call it that," Seto muttered. Sharing a couple of classes and being stalked by the obnoxious blonde didn't exactly make them friends in Seto's book.

Yami snapped his fingers. "Of course! You're Kaiba! I met you at that party last week."

"Call me Seto," he responded almost pleasantly, so busy observing the way the shorter male's blonde bangs fluttered over his face in the slight wind that he almost missed the other's response.

"Alright. Well then, Seto, would you like to come to the cafeteria with me? I'm bored and hungry and Malik abandoned me to go scrub his pores." Yami laughed lightly, running a hand through his hair, and gave the brunet a hopeful glance.

Seto thought for a moment, studying the other carefully before he replied slowly, his heart thudding painfully in his chest, "I would, except I want our first date to be nicer than that."

Yami's hand froze mid-stroke. "Excuse me?"

The brunet summoned all his Kaiba confidence and flashed the other a devilish grin. "You heard me. I'm attracted to you." He paused, bracing himself for a cheesy, slightly degrading speech, but continued anyway, since after all, Kaibas did whatever it took to get what they wanted, and Seto was willing to embarrass himself a bit if he had to. "I think you're gorgeous," he continued, "gorgeous and… sweet, and friendly; and I want you to go out with me. Tomorrow."

Yami just stared up at him, wide-eyed, for almost a full minute, and Seto had almost given up hope when the shorter male finally replied, in a small voice, "Okay."

"Okay?" Seto echoed, unable to hide the relief lacing his response.

Yami nodded, a tiny smile playing about his lips before he dropped his gaze to the ground. "Only… Only, well; I don't know you very well, and I've never been on an American date before, so I don't think I know what to do," he mumbled.

Seto grinned saucily. "Don't worry about that. I'll be more than happy to show you just how things work." A few X-rated images danced through his head, only to be sadly butchered when Yami spoke again.

"Can I bring someone along with us?"

The brunet stared in surprise, and at the look on his face Yami started stammering, obviously flustered. "I'm sorry, that ruins things, doesn't it? I just… I thought I would feel better if I had someone there, that I know… you know… like Malik, or my brother Atemu…"

A sudden, wicked idea came over Seto and he laughed, surprising the other into silence. "Bring Atemu," the brunet said. "I'll bring someone as well. We'll make it a double date."

Seth was fuming by the time he got back to his apartment. The long car ride, due to a wreck on the interstate, had given him plenty of time to stew over the events of the day. He still couldn't believe that not only had he gotten kicked out of class – though Kaibas walk out, they do not get kicked out – but he had been played by the one person that seemed to haunt his every thought. That was another thing that irked him. Why was Atemu always on his mind?

Sure the guy was sexy, exotic, and obviously intelligent and even a blind person would find him attractive but damn if the guy didn't infuriate the hell out of him. And that was reason he was so pissed off. Why the hell was he so obsessed with someone that seemed to enjoy making his life a living hell?

And why did he seem to look forward to it?

Snorting at his own idiotic self, Seth threw his book bag down on the floor of his bedroom and turned to his computer desk, ready to get started on his homework, only to stop short with narrowed eyes. There, taped to the screen, was a very small picture. Taking the few necessary steps needed to stand in front of the desk, he snatched the offending object off of it, brought it up to his face and stared – hard.

He growled at the image of his current 'double-headed headache' passionately lip-locked with that white-haired bastard. His icy glare was interrupted by a smug, mocking voice behind him.

"Enjoying your present?"

Turning around, Seth fixed the same look he had just given the picture to his twin brother who was leaning against the door frame, arms crossed over his chest, with that famous Kaiba smirk on his face.

"Two questions, little brother, before I kick your ass."

Seto just raised an eyebrow, not caring about the useless threat. "Proceed."

"How the hell did you get this?" He questioned, holding up the small photo, "And why the hell do you insist on pushing me when it comes to this guy?"

"Ah, easy enough. To answer your first question, I found it." Well that was partially true; he did find it… in that god-awful binder. "Second, because it's highly entertaining."

Seth snarled, "I should have strangled you in the womb."

"But brother-dear, if you had done that then you wouldn't have been able to go on a date with me tomorrow."

Blinking, Seth lowered the picture, "Excuse me?"

"I said," Seto began, pushing himself off of the doorframe, "We have a double date tomorrow. I suggest you dress to impress."

"When have I ever not dressed…..wait. Who's my date? And better yet who is yours?"

The younger Kaiba flashed him a cocky grin, before turning and walking out of Seth's room into his own, speaking over his shoulder. "I happen to have a date with Yami Mutou and you have a date with a friend of his."

Seth ignored the slight jealous pang that hit him when he heard who his twin's date was and followed his brother into his room. "And this friend is? He is male right? While there is nothing wrong with females, I'm not into boobs, PMS, and estrogen."

Shrugging, Seto laid back on his bed, head pillowed by his arms, sapphire eyes looking up at the white ceiling. "I'm not sure who he is. All I know is that Yami said he wouldn't go out with me unless he could bring a friend with him. So I agreed. And you are going to keep his friend company while I lay on the Kaiba charm."

Seth snorted in amusement, "Fine, I'll keep the friend away but you, little brother, owe me." Without another word, he turned and walked back to his room, completely missing the shit-eating grin on the other's face.

Dragon and Pysche: Thanks for all the wonderful reviews!