Because I've been asked about this: There will be no endgame prideshipping. Kaiba is going to stay single for the rest of the fic - the plot is how he learns to deal with it.

Also, this is probably going to be about 8-10 chapters in length. I've already got some other chapters written, but I'm writing them all out of order - I'm working on chapter 9-ish at the same time I'm working on chapter 3, and I've already got chapter 4 completely finished. It's a mess.

Here's chapter two, enjoy!


"Stop sulking," said Mokuba.

"I'm not sulking."

"Yes you are. You've been glaring at that paperwork for the past five minutes without doing any of it."

Seto let it go. There was no point getting into an endless no-I'm-not-yes-you-are argument, and besides, Mokuba was right. Loath as he was to admit it, he was sulking.

"Why, though?" persisted Mokuba. "Was the ice cream bad? I thought it was good. Are you just jealous -"

Seto's head whipped up so fast he got a crick in his neck.

"- that you don't... have any friends..." Mokuba appeared to have lost the end of that sentence, and was staring suspiciously at Seto. Shit.

"Wait!" said Mokuba, and scrambled higher up on the couch, pointing an accusatory finger. "You are jealous, aren't you? You're jealous cause they're in love -"

Seto resigned himself to certain death.

"Feet off the couch," he said curtly.

Mokuba ignored him. Of course. "You're jealous cause your best rival forever is dating someone else, is that it?"

"Best rival forever?"

"Wait, which one is he anyway?" continued Mokuba, seating himself on the back of the couch. "I used to think they were just, yknow, the same person."

"It's Atem," said Seto.

"You mean the pharaoh guy?" asked Mokuba, then, "Ha! You admitted it."

Seto started to say something in response. Gave up.

"They were touching each other," he mumbled. "So much."

"Don't worry," said Mokuba knowledgeably, "this is the honeymoon phase. They're still all happy they get to see each other again. Give them some time and they'll tone it down" - he smirked - "and you won't have to be as jealous of their romance anymore."

Seto frowned. "Where did you learn that kind of thing?"

"Soap operas," said Mokuba pointedly, "because you're always busy with work and you never do anything with me, so I have to watch TV by myself. Even when the only thing on is bad soap operas -"

The phone rang.

Seto thanked all the deities he didn't believe in for the distraction, and picked up the phone. "Kaiba Seto speaking."

"Hey. Kaiba."

It was Atem. Seto felt his eyes widen and something swoop in his stomach.

"I need a favor." Atem's voice was cool, guarded.

"I don't do favors."

"I'll duel you."

A sharp electricity lanced down Seto's spine, and he sat up straight. "I'm listening."

"Ah." Atem sounded taken aback, as if he hadnt expected it to be this easy. "Well. The issue is this: I've essentially just appeared out of nowhere. I have no records of my life, no ID, no evidence of a family -"

Understanding was beginning to dawn. "You want me to forge you a paper trail?"

"You're the only person I know with the means to pull off something like that."

"We'll need to meet in person and discuss it," said Seto, then had to make a sharp gesture to silence Mokuba's budding snickers. "Something this big won't arrange itself in a day, and bear in mind that I haven't agreed to it yet. Do you want to make an appointment?"

"Tomorrow at 4:00." That was fast. He hadn't missed a beat.

"Good. I'll see you then."

Seto hung up and prepared himself to deal with Mokuba's delighted capering. "Stop that."

"He's coming over!" crowed Mokuba. "You invited him over! Are you looking for some alone time with him -"

"We're going to negotiate a potential business transaction," snapped Seto. "Stop fooling around and get out of my office; I have work to do."

Mokuba stuck out his tongue and left.

The next day at the appointed time there was a buzz on the intercom. His secretary's voice said, "There's a Muto Yugi and an Atem... just Atem? here to see you. They say they have an appointment?"

"Send them up," said Kaiba automatically, before realizing that - Yugi? Yugi was there too?

He felt bitterly disappointed, even somehow cheated, but then he pulled himself together. Had he really been expecting that anything would happen between him and Atem simply because the two of them would be alone in the room? Good grief. One unfortunate case of romantic feelings and he was already starting to lose all sense of perspective. He would have to monitor his own thoughts more closely from now on.

The elevator outside in the hall dinged. Seto took a deep breath and fixed an imposing look on his face right before the door opened and his greatest rival walked into the room, followed by his greatest rival's goddamn boyfriend. Of course.

"Why," said Seto before he could stop himself, "are you here."

There were, in fairness, a plethora of replies Yugi could had given to that, but all he said was, "To make sure you two don't kill each other." He looked wary and defiant, and his face was set - so different from the wimpy child Kaiba had first met. Damn Atem and his influence.

"And because someone showing up alone at Kaiba Corp headquarters with no form of identification and no last name would look really suspicious," said Atem brusquely. "Which is why we're here."

"I still haven't agreed to that, you know," said Seto. "I only said I'd listen -"

"Then listen," said Atem. His arms were folded and his jaw set. "For all this world knows, I don't exist. I have no ID and no background. I don't even have a last name, for crying out loud. Which means I can't apply for a job or to a school, I have no way of getting a license, I essentially can't function in this world. I need you to help me."

The last sentence was bare and uncompromising, laid out on the table for all to see. Atem's chin was high and his back was straight, but Seto knew how very vulnerable he was, and Atem knew he knew. He was swallowing his pride and putting himself in Seto's hands, asking for help.

Seto expected to feel some kind of satisfaction from this, a rush of power or pride, at seeing his rival at his metaphorical feet. Instead he just felt uncomfortable. It wasn't supposed to be like this. They were supposed to meet each other head-on, on a playing field that was never more uneven than any one of them could make up for on his own; they were supposed to match each other step for step and move for move. And now Atem was helpless.

It rubbed him the wrong way.

"You do realize," he said, "that this kind of undertaking would be very difficult and time-consuming on my part and yours - more mine than yours, I might add. Not to mention I will have to do some less-than-legal things to obtain some of the papers you're looking for. You realize what you're asking?"

"Yes," said Atem, his chin still held high. Yugi hovered uncertainly at his side.

"And you know I'll be expecting appropriate payment." He didn't have to add that all the money Yugi and all his friends could offer would be a drop in the ocean that was Kaiba Corp's fortune.

"I'll duel you," said Atem, and was that a hint of desperation in his voice?

"I -"

"As many times as you want."

Well.

Seto had to grip the edges of his desk to contain his - well, what was it? Excitement? Anticipation? Surprise at just how quickly that promise had turned his blood to gunpowder? Regardless, his skin seemed to sizzle with it - his breathing was tight in his chest.

As many times as he wanted.

"It's a deal," he said.

Atem looked nonplussed. He glanced at Yugi and Yugi shrugged. Seto could almost read the Well, that was easy flashing between them.

Who cared what they thought, anyway. He was going to get to experience the unparalleled euphoria of facing the greatest opponent he had ever known, and he was going to get to do so any time he wished. He could take a little scorn in the face of that promise.

"All right," he said. "Where do you want to start?"


Once again, I really appreciate reviews! I've worked hard on this, it's taken me a lot of time, so if you liked the fic I would appreciate some returning the favor and taking a bit of time to tell me what you liked about it and/or what I need to work on. It won't take long and it'll make me a lot happier than just a fave or follow on its own!