Chapter Nine

Between one breath and the next, they were both suddenly in his bedroom.

Seto had planned on doing some paperwork before bed, but after the day's pool adventure, his body was feeling languid and his eyes heavy.

Now, he was nervous.

Yugi was in his room again.

But everything was different.

Seto couldn't hide behind the little wall they had put between them for so long.

Yugi, already decked in his pajamas for the evening - flannel pants and no shirt (and Seto was trying so hard not to look for signs that weren't there, because Yugi hardly ever wore a shirt to bed anyway), padded in farther. He yawned cutely. He walked in Seto's room with such confidence, and before long he was already burrowing his way into the blankets on Seto's bed.

His appreciative inhale was audible from where Seto stood.

Yugi groaned in delight. "You smell so good!" He'd probably said, but it was severely muffled by the pillow pressed against his face. He lifted his head up to speak more clearly. "Everything in here smells like you and I love it."

Seto smiled smugly, but didn't say anything, only approached the bed cautiously.

What if Yugi wanted more? Already. Seto couldn't do that. He wasn't ready for that. It would hardly be his first time -

- but never before had it felt so important. That it had to be done the right way. This was Yugi, and Seto wouldn't give him any less than he deserves.

Yugi all but purred in happiness as he rubbed himself on the linens in delight.

Yugi deserved the world.

Yugi paused, propped himself up a moment. "What's taking you so long? The best part about sleeping in your bed is that you're here."

Seto sat on the very edge of the bed, and Yugi flopped over. His mussed hair splayed over the pale blue sheets and darker blanket. He wrapped his arms around Seto's waist. His next words were spoken against Seto's outer thigh. "Not quite what I meant, but I guess it's good enough."

Seto chuckled, still a little tensely, but reached down to stroke that long, dark hair.

Yugi looked good with long hair, Seto decided with conviction.

Yugi all but purred, turned his head so his cheek was pressed against Seto's leg. He blinked languidly up at Seto. "Why so tense, Seto?" He tenderly traced his fingers on Seto's side.

Seto gulped. "I'm not."

Yugi hummed, disbelieving. "Sure."

Seto didn't reply, only continued to run his fingers through that wild hair.

Yugi suddenly pulled away and sat up, his hair flowing away like water between Seto's fingers. One hand tenderly touched Seto's face. Yugi's palm was hot, like a brand, and Seto imagined a hand-shaped mark being left behind on his face.

But what caught Seto's attention most were those beautiful violet eyes. Even in blindness - or, perhaps, especially in blindness - they were so expressive.

Yugi leaned forward and up, pressed his lips first on Seto's other cheek, then his nose, then his lips, each kiss so slow and sweet.

"Let's go to sleep, Seto," he whispered. "I'm tired and I want to cuddle with you."

Seto nodded beneath Yugi's touch. "Okay."

Yugi flopped back onto the bed, scooted to make room for Seto. Seto didn't have to pull the disheveled blankets back far before he could stick his feet under.

"You made a mess, Yugi."

"I don't know what you're talking about. I don't see any mess."

Seto spluttered a laugh at that, collapsing back against the pillow. "It's amazing that you can joke about it."

"Pfft. You're the one taking the whole sheets thing too seriously. Of course I can joke about bed linens." And then Yugi was scooting closer again.

Seto didn't even have to think; it was second-nature at this point to wrap an arm around Yugi's smaller form and snuggle him into his chest.

Of course it wouldn't be any different.

He pressed a kiss to the top of Yugi's head. "Yugi…"

"Hmmmm?" The hum tickled Seto's skin.

"Goodnight."

"'Night, Seto."

Sugoroku breathed in the sweet summer air and sighed in content. The flowering trees near their outdoor table at a small restaurant colored the wind so beautifully. He wondered why he didn't appreciate this natural splendor more when he was a young buck looking for adventure.

He looked across the table.

Yugi was leaned back in his chair, and he breathed slowly between gentle sips of his drink. Their empty plates had long been cleared away. His sightless purple eyes - their color so like Sugoroku's own - blinked slowly, at an almost sleepy pace. Sugoroku wondered where Yugi got his calm wisdom, that relaxed grace, his carefree, selfless nature.

Sugoroku wondered why his grandson was still such an angel when life had been nothing but cruel to him in return.

Sugoroku found himself wondering a lot, these days.

"What a beautiful day," he sighed.

Yugi hummed his agreement. "It is. I wonder what flowers they have around here. They smell really good."

"I'm not sure," Sugoroku replied. Flowers really weren't his thing. He swallowed thickly a moment. There were many things he wanted to say, but he wasn't sure what words to use or how to use them. Or if this were even the right time to bring it up, when so much time had passed since it had happened.

Maybe, Sugoroku wondered, he had become a coward in his old age.

"Yugi…" he said, and those blind eyes were affixed to him in that strangely intense manner.

Yugi said nothing in return, only waited for his grandfather to continue.

"You've sacrificed many things for my sake, without being asked, without my saying that I wanted or needed it." Yugi didn't go to college, simply so he could help take care of Sugoroku in his deteriorating health. Yugi spent most of the money he made in his dueling career on repairs for the game shop or Sugoroku's piling medical bills. And Yugi gave up his vision to save his grandfather from a fire that rendered many of those repairs futile. "Not that I'm not thankful. I could never express how thankful I am that you are in my life, that you help me so much, without a second thought. Without a second thought to your own well-being… your own happiness."

Yugi shook his head slowly, "Grandpa, I was never unhappy helping you. The thought of leaving you behind to struggle on your own, that made me unhappy." He smiled, so soft and tender. "And I'm not unwell. I'm perfectly healthy. Hell, I'm slowly becoming a functional member of society again."

"What you sacrificed -"

"You've sacrificed more than enough to take care of me, Grandpa." Yugi turned his head away, and Sugoroku wondered what he saw that could garner such an intense gaze. "You could've let Mom and I go. You could've turned us away. You could've kicked me out when she left. But you didn't. You raised me in her stead, when you could've spent the rest of your days in peace at the game shop." Yugi touched his chest where the Puzzle used to rest. "And all the trouble I brought you…"

"Yugi, you're family. Of course I took care of you."

"Exactly, Grandpa," Yugi said, and for once, his voice trembled. "You're all I have left. I couldn't leave you behind, I couldn't let you get hurt."

Sugoroku bravely fought back tears. And all he could think was that it didn't matter that he was all that was left of Yugi's family; Yugi would have saved anyone.

Sugoroku Muto's grandson was an angel.

Silence fell over the pair.

Yugi shifted forward, rested his elbows on the table. "Look, Grandpa, I have something to tell you."

Sugoroku frowned. "What is it, Yugi?"

Yugi was pale, unsure. "W-Well, y'know how Seto has taken us in and everything, b-but uh… Seto and I…" He gulped. "We're…"

"I know, Yugi," Sugoroku said. "I know what young people in love look like."

Yugi's cheek bloomed a brilliant red. "I just," he chuckled sheepishly, "with everything that happened when we were younger -"

"Water under the bridge, Yugi."

"- and him being a guy and all -"

"That hardly matters."

"- I was just a little nervous about telling you." Yugi scratched his cheek. "You can never really tell how people react to these things."

"Even if I were to take it badly, I've had plenty of time to get used to the idea," Sugoroku said off-handedly.

Yugi's eyebrows rose quizzically.

"Most young men don't sleep in the same bed for nights on end, Yugi," Sugoroku explained wryly.

Yugi's face grew ever redder. He could only lift a shoulder in a shrug.

"I think I saw this coming before you did," Sugoroku laughed.

"No, I'm pretty sure I saw this coming, too," Yugi chuckled.

"Hm." Sugoroku rubbed his beard in thought. "I noticed when you were first in the hospital. That young man was hovering about like some lost spirit."

Yugi frowned. "What?"

Sugoroku nodded gravely, though he soon remembered Yugi couldn't see it anyway. "Yes. Walking by in the hallway, sometimes stopping to peek in when he thought no one would notice."

"I… I didn't know that."

"Nearly from the day you got there."

"But that doesn't mean, y'know…" Yugi began shyly.

"No, it doesn't, but that also doesn't mean that I didn't see it coming," Sugoroku explained.

"I… I guess…" Yugi murmured.

"As long as you're happy, Yugi, I don't care who you love. Of all the people I've met in all my years, never have I known someone who deserves happiness as much as you do."

Yugi smiled, tremulous with tears. "I am happy, Grandpa."

"Then I'm satisfied."

And they enjoyed the rest of their time in silence.

Seto glanced over the edge of his laptop again.

Mokuba sat on the other side of the table. His cheek was propped on his fist, and his grayish eyes scrutinized his older brother with the most curious intensity.

Seto's lip twitched, but he looked back down to the text on his screen. He scrolled, replied to emails, reviewed memos and itineraries and blueprints. He could still feel Mokuba's eyes boring holes into his forehead.

He sighed, shifted, raised his eyebrows. "Do you need something, Mokuba?"

Mokuba shook his head slowly. But he didn't look away.

"Then cut it out! You're being very distracting!" Seto hissed.

"I'm just… fascinated," Mokuba murmured. "I've never seen you like this."

Seto gave him am exasperated expression. "Like what? Trying to work?"

"No…" Mokuba said in that slow Kaiba tone (the tone used when the person they were talking to was acting like a dunce). "So… free. Relaxed. Comfortable in your skin."

"Whatever," Seto grumbled.

"I mean it," Mokuba insisted. "I never noticed it before, but, you were really tense. On-edge. All the time. Twenty-four-seven." He was quiet a moment, eyes narrowing in thought as he absently played with his hair. "It took seeing you act differently to realize it had even been happening."

Seto's lips parted and moved a little, but nothing came out.

"Yugi's been good for you," Mokuba said softly. "Spending time with him and everything."

Seto once again couldn't bring himself to say anything. It was one of those rare times when Seto Kaiba had no idea what to think, let alone say.

"Maybe his optimism is rubbing off on you," Mokuba said, and his smirk was audible.

"Like hell," Seto growled.

Mokuba laughed.

It wasn't until later that the thought came to Seto -

If Yugi could keep on smiling even when his whole world was going dark and crumbling around him, what had been stopping Seto the whole time?

"Mm, is this a date, Seto?" Yugi asked playfully.

Seto growled. "Just put the damn thing on."

Yugi held up the hanger. "Where are we going that requires me to wear a suit?"

"It's a surprise," Seto said drolly.

"It sounds like a date…" Yugi sang. He leaned closer, touched Seto's face for guidance before he pressed a chaste kiss to Seto's lips.

Seto found himself leaning forward, following Yugi's retreating lips even as he turned away to march into the bathroom.

"I might need help putting this on," he called over his shoulder. "I'll call for you."

Seto gulped. He flushed hotly, his skin prickling, and he distracted himself with his own change of clothes. He was just straightening his tie when the door to the bathroom opened.

"Why are there so many buttons?" Yugi said with a breathless laugh. "I really don't think something needs this many buttons, Seto." His shirt dangled open, as did the vest and jacket over it.

"You should've just done it one piece at a time," Seto said, shaking his head and smiling.

Yugi pursed his lips and cautiously ventured closer. "Well, maybe I just want your help. Ever think of that, Mr. Genius?"

Seto laughed again, and he stepped closer. He dropped his hands to the shirt buttons. Occasionally, his fingers inadvertently brushed bare flesh, and each time a shock of awareness licked up Seto's spine. Yugi was silent, violet, sightless eyes affixed unnervingly upon Seto's face.

"And you say you want to be more independent," Seto said in a mock-condescending voice.

"Hey, I don't have enough dignity to not play the damsel-in-distress card if it means getting close to you now," Yugi said, half-jokingly, half-tenderly.

"You don't have to do that," Seto murmured, leaning down. He could feel Yugi's breath on his lips. "Hell, you don't even have to ask."

"Oh?" Yugi hummed, arching up for a kiss, but Seto pulled away just enough to keep it from happening. "Is the one and only Seto Kaiba admitting that he likes physical human contact?"

Seto chuckled, a purring, rumbling sound, and Yugi visibly shivered. "Maybe just with you."

"I can't believe it," Yugi said, the back of his hand held to his forehead as if he were about to swoon. "Seto Kaiba is flirting with me."

Seto frowned at him. "It's hardly the first time."

Yugi smirked, mischievous and delighted. "It's the first time you've been so obvious." He slowly reached forward, and his palms slid along Seto's suit jacket before his fingers curled into the lapels. "I like it." He gently tugged Seto down.

A sweet huff of breath, and then Yugi was brushing their noses together. Perhaps he intended it to be sweet and cute, and perhaps it was on some level, but it seemed so incredibly sensual. Seto's breath trembled on his next inhale. Their lips ghosted together, collided softly like fluttering butterflies.

Seto shivered.

Definitely sensual.

Seto bit down a soft, moaning sigh and pulled back. "We need to get going," he croaked.

Yugi pouted and pointed to his vest and jacket. "I still have buttons that need fastening."

Seto snorted at him. "Tuck in your shirt first, or do you expect me to do that, too?"

Yugi's dark eyebrows winged up expectantly.

"No," Seto said firmly.

Yugi's head tilted, and it seemed like his eyebrows would climb right off his face.

"No."

"Aw, c'mon. Don't act like you don't want to put your hands all over me," Yugi said, and his shoulders shook with restrained laughter. But even as he talked, he tucked his shirt tails into the waistband of his pants.

A vein pulsed in Seto's forehead, and he was sure he'd never felt his face get so hot before. "You little brat."

"That's me!"

Yugi looked far too good in a suit, Seto thought for what seemed like the millionth time that evening. All slim, defined lines, hard planes and soft edges. Smooth. His hair, tied back loose and low near the ends, looked so distinguished. The red tie Seto had picked brought out his violet eyes to an intensity so vivid Seto deliriously wondered if he'd pulled the color straight from some lurid dream.

"Hm, a fancy restaurant?" Yugi guessed, and he was dead on the mark. "You know, I can't exactly be impressed by these things if I can't see them," he said jocularly as they walked into the establishment.

"Hn. We'd already be dressed formally for the evening, and I thought it would be more than a bit awkward if we decided to eat at a place with a less stringent dress code," Seto explained.

"Mm, sure. You just want to show me off to all the other rich people but you just won't admit it," Yugi said, vulpine and smirking.

Seto's hand slid slowly, up and down, from between Yugi's shoulder blades to the small of his back. "That, too, I suppose."

Yugi laughed, tinkling and delighted. Seto's own grin grew.

He suddenly wondered if he ever smiled as much as he did with Yugi.

The host had but to look at them before he was gathering up two menus. "Reservation for Kaiba?"

Seto only raised a brow. Of course.

Yugi elbowed him right in the ribs. Seto hissed and glared down. "Answer him. You're being rude," Yugi whispered.

"How do you know I didn't nod, Yugi?" Seto growled back.

"I know you, and you wouldn't just nod. You probably gave him some sarcastic expression that all but screamed, 'No shit, Sherlock.'"

"You can't possibly know that," Seto hissed.

"Well, I do," Yugi replied. He turned his head in the direction of the host. "Yes, reservation for Kaiba."

Seto rolled his eyes, the corner of his lip wavering between a snarl and a grin.

"For being so wealthy, you certainly are uncouth," Yugi said with a giggle as they were led away, Seto's hand still upon his back.

Seto feigned a high-pitched voice and parroted Yugi's words back to him. (Though Yugi's voice, in his maturation, had actually become deeper than Seto's own.)

Yugi only laughed.

Seto pulled out Yugi's seat for him, and the host smiled brightly - perhaps out of amusement for their antics, Seto wasn't sure and didn't care - and laid out a single menu out of the two in his hands. He probably assumed correctly and believed Yugi couldn't make much use of one.

"Can I start you off with something to drink? Perhaps some wine?"

Yugi smiled politely and shook his head. "Water is fine for me."

"I'll second that," Seto added.

The host walked away, and Yugi leaned his elbow on the table, his chin in his palm. "Hm, I was torn between thinking you'd want us to enjoy some fine wine and you wanting us to be perfectly sober for the second part of our evening."

Seto chuckled. "We can always drink wine where we're going. Besides, wine makes you sleepy."

Yugi hummed, "That's true."

Seto opened the menu. "I didn't think about whether or not this place has Braille menus."

Silly as it may be… sometimes he forgot about Yugi's blindness. Yugi didn't let it define him.

"It's okay. Read it to me," Yugi said quietly. "I like it when you read to me."

Seto stared at that sweet face. Normally, it was random things, like an article he found online or some email he was ranting about.

Maybe he should read to Yugi more often.

He imagined it, Yugi curled into him like a contented cat as he calmly narrated a novel to him before bed. Yugi's head on his chest, his own hand occasionally stroking through that wild hair and petting Yugi's bare back or side, perhaps holding one defined hip.

He gulped and shook the thought away. He could daydream later, when he didn't have the object of his fantasies sitting right in front of him.

So he steadily read the menu aloud, and Yugi sighed with content and genuinely contemplated his appetite for the evening.

He picked a simple dish, a little light, and Seto chose something along the same lines. The waiter rushed off with their orders.

And Seto watched Yugi relaxedly lay his hand and arm on the table. Seto blinked, cheeks warm, his own hand inching forward until their fingers were brushing. Yugi smiled, small and private and gentle, and Seto felt like the only other man in the world. He laced their fingers together. Yugi's thumb brushed over his knuckles, and Seto gave his hand the gentlest squeeze.

"I'm happy," was all Yugi said.

And Seto's thoughts raced.

But he only said one thing in return;

"I am, too."

END PART

So, there's the first date part 1. Next chapter will continue where this left off.

Sorry about the wait. I've been stuck. And busy. Which doesn't help with the stuckness.

Also, this was my dipping my toe into the idea of increasing the rating on this. If you guys are all like "GET YOUR LECHEROUS TOE OUT OF MY WHOLESOMENESS!" I will promptly remove said toe. It's all up to you guys, in the end. And if it's 50/50 or whatnot I'll just post any… escalated content elsewhere so it can still be enjoyed by those who desire it.

Anywho, thanks for your patience, and thanks for reading! I'll see you next time!