Chapter 4

"Homecoming"

It was hours later before Bakura finally got back to the main road. When he first saw the headlights from other cars, shinning like flashlights of guardian angels, he nearly dropped with relief. It had been morning when he started driving, and it was now past sunset. The only problem was, his tank was almost empty once again, and he didn't know how far the nearest gas station was.

He told himself not to worry. Now that there were other people in sight, what could possibly go wrong?

That is really one sentence one should never, ever say…

Casting a glance at the rear view mirror, Bakura noted that Shadow was now awake, and looking out the window. His eyes were hard and emotionless as always, making it impossible for Bakura to tell what he was feeling.

Deciding he'd worry about getting through to the child later, he stepped on the gas pedal and slid into an open space in the traffic.

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"Damn!"

Bakura felt a dreading sense of familiarity as he pounded a fist on the dashboard. "Damn, damn, damn!"

Too late, he remembered about young Shadow in the backseat.

Looking behind him, he saw that the child had fallen asleep again.

For a moment, he felt relived. That feeling was short-lived, however, as he pounded again on the dashboard in frustration. He couldn't believe it. Out of gas again! Why? Why him!

He had been so sure a gas station would be nearby, but he hadn't even passed a rest stop. He was hungry, thirsty, in need of a bathroom…and out of gas. AGAIN!

Nobody seemed to care. All the other cars speed past, and Bakura felt like life was passing before his eyes.

But you shouldn't question fate.

It may be frisky and have a wicked sense of humor…but it always has a plan.

A very familiar car pulled up right behind Bakura's.

The white-haired teen's eyes widened. Talk about chance meetings…

"Seto!"

"The one and only," a familiar voice responded airily, reaching Bakura before the speaker himself appeared. A certain CEO sauntered over to where Bakura was stuck by the side of the road, smirking as he came up to stand by Bakura's car. Leaning in the open window, he said in a lazy drawl, "So. How's life?"

"Shut up, you humongous ahou. Get me out!" Bakura snapped.

"Oh. Were you stuck?" Seto's eyes widened in mock surprise.

"That's not funny. I have to gooooo!" Bakura wined. "And I'd guess my the same for the kid in the back," he added, jerking his head towards the back seat.

Seto looked to where his…friend…had indicated, and this time, his expression of shock wasn't fringed. His eyes widened until they were literally twice their usual size, a rare expression of genuine shock breaking cleanly though his usual mask. "Oh. My. God. He looks exactly like…like…"

Bakura cut him off. "Yes, I know. I sort of noticed. Can you please get us to a rest stop! I'll catch you up on everything on the way!"

Seto snapped out of his daze. "Yes, yes of course. Grab the kid and let's go!"

Without a backward glance, Seto raced off to start his car. Bakura hastily made to follow suit. Leaning into the backseat, he unbuckled Shadow, who immediately woke up. His crimson eyes snapped open, and upon seeing Bakura leaning over him, the child's eyes widened considerably.

"I'm not going to hurt you, kid. I told you that. C'mon, we're leaving." With that, Bakura scooped the child into his arms and backed out of the car. Shadow was tense in his arms. He was obviously and understandably nervous, unsure of what was going on and not liking the fact that he had little control of what was going to happen to him.

Bakura trotted over to Seto's car and settled Shadow in the back. Then he himself went to the front and slipped into the passenger seat. "What about my car?" he demanded of the man beside him. Seto glanced at him while stepping on the gas and maneuvering the car onto the road. "We'll worry about that later," he said shortly. "Let's get to that rest stop you mentioned. And start talking. You promised you'd explain."

Bakura sighed, but had to obey, seeing as how Seto had the power to just leave him by the side of the road. He was forced to talk for the next fifteen minutes straight. Seto snorted when he was finished. "Idiot. And you told me you'd never ever have to use that spare gas."

"Shut up. Are we there yet?"

"Glad you asked," Seto replied, pulling into a small rest stop. The car had barely stopped when the white-haired teen wrenched the door open and disappeared into the bathroom.

Seto rolled his eyes, and decided not to say anything regarding a certain immature, ill-mannered ex-tomb robber. Instead, he looked back at the child who now sat in his backseat. Crimson eyes locked with icy blue ones. Shadow was watching the CEO's every move, letting nothing escape his weary gaze. Remembering what Bakura had said about the kid, Seto decided to act as nice as possible. After all, he knew only too well how horrible orphanages could be.

"Hey there. We haven't really gotten introduced, huh? My name's Seto Kaiba."

Shadow didn't give any response.

"So…uh…do you have to go too?" Seto asked, nodding to the bathroom in to which Bakura had disappeared.

Again, Shadow did nothing, though Seto hadn't been exactly expecting a reaction.

Seto gave a little sigh. "Look, kid, I'm not going to hurt you, alright? I know first hand how bad orphanages could be. I won't make things worse for you. Looks like you've already been to hell and back."

Bakura reappeared at that moment. He opened the back door. "Getting acquainted? Great. Finish up later. C'mon, Shadow, you have to go too."

They both disappeared into the small building.

Seto could only gaze blankly after them.

"We are going to have one hell of a time trying to break through to that boy," he said into thin air.

He never did notice that he used "we" instead of "he".

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When they finally arrived back at Seto's mansion, it was around three in the morning. Both Shadow and Bakura were fast asleep. Seto smacked the white-haired man beside him upside the head, and Bakura woke up with a yelp, causing Seto to smirk rather evilly. "Awake, sleepyhead? About time. Get the kid. You can have one of the guestrooms tonight." That said, the CEO left them and went into the house,

Bakura glared after him for a second…or two…before getting out of the car and fetching Shadow from the back.

With the child secure in his arms, Bakura went into the house and somehow managed to find his way to the guestrooms. He stumbled into the first one he saw and tossed Shadow onto the giant bed as gently as he could manage. Then, too tired to do anything else, he collapsed next to the child, exhausted. He had barely pulled the covers over them before he fell back into sleep's comforting hold.

Note:

This story takes place six years after the gang graduates. Yami was killed seven years ago, or one year before the graduation. If you haven't figured it out, Shadow was born a year later, or about the same time the teens graduated. Upon graduation, everyone left to pursue their dreams. Where they went will be revealed later. Seto's home remained in Domino, obviously, as that's where his company is. Mokuba left for college a few months ago, during the summer. It is now winter, almost Christmas. Bakura also remained in Domino. His house isn't far from Seto's. Malik (the yami) left with his hikari.