Chapter 08: Faces in Disguise

Wait, this was all wrong! Looking around at his surroundings, Kaiba immediately wanted to be anywhere but in this room, because if he was here, he knew what was going to happen next and that just wasn't possible. Standing up from his leather armchair, he wasn't sure where he was going to go, but he knew that he had to get out of this sitting room now.

"Going so soon?"

Too late. "I fucking knew it!" Kaiba swore, glaring hatefully at the figure approaching him. "I knew there was no way that you would give up so easily. 'Get some sleep,' my ass! This was your true intention all along, wasn't it?"

With a knowing look, he gave a vague, "Maybe," before shoving Kaiba back into the chair and gracefully straddling himself in Kaiba's lap with a small noise of triumph. "Then again, maybe not."

"Oh, don't try to act fucking cute!" Kaiba said in disgust. He bided his time to make his move; after all, if he had extracted himself from this situation once before, he could certainly do it again.

"Then how would you like me to act?"

Kaiba suggested, "Like a normal person?" but he knew it was pointless. "Now get the hell off of me!"

The instant Kaiba saw that smirk, he knew that he wasn't going to like what was about to happen. "I'd rather get you off," he told Kaiba, his hand searching for the button of the other's pants while his tongue traveled insistently along the curve of Kaiba's neck.

Knocking the offensive hand away and grabbing the other firmly by his hair, Kaiba pulled him back harshly and ignored the sharp yelp of pain. "Why are you being so forward?" Kaiba demanded to know, suspicious at the change in behavior.

He pivoted the question right back at Kaiba, "Why won't you take any action?"

"Because I don't want to."

"Liar."

"Excuse me?" Kaiba asked, his voice threatening as he tightened his grip, causing the other to cry out again.

Turning his head slightly in the direction of Kaiba's arm, he slowly kissed the part of the wrist he had access to, his tongue flicking out and causing Kaiba to immediately let go of him. Kaiba started to ask him just what in the hell he was doing when he noticed something that confirmed his earlier suspicions. The ear that had been bruised was no longer marked, despite the fact that Yami still had the mark earlier that evening when he was over at the house. Grabbing the imposter by the throat, he icily questioned, "Who the fuck are you?"

"That's what I'd like to know," came another voice, startling Kaiba. Looking over at the source, there was Yami leaning against the doorframe, watching the scene with a bemused expression.

"So help me, if I find out that Isis fucked up and there are now two of you and a Yuugi, I will kill her," Kaiba warned, still not removing his hand from the other's neck. "As soon as I wake up, I will go over to that museum and fucking kill her in the most painful and creative way possible, consequences be damned!"

Laughing, the real Yami began to walk over to them, reassuring Kaiba, "No, this has nothing to do with Isis."

"Then how else do you explain this?" Kaiba wanted to know.

"You tell me."

"What?"

Taking the seat he had occupied earlier in the evening, Yami continued to chuckle at the situation. This was more than he could have ever hoped for from Kaiba. "So this is what you were expecting when you asked, 'Is that it?' I figured as much."

"So you sent him as a test?" Kaiba asked incredulously.

"I had nothing to do with him."

That gave Kaiba a moment to pause as he tried to figure out what other possibilities there were to explain this thing still residing on his lap. "If you don't hurry up and tell me why it's here, you'll go before Isis."

Yami considered letting this carry on a little further, but he decided against it since it was mildly disconcerting to see himself being strangled by Kaiba. "He's entirely your own creation."

"What?" No, Kaiba refused to believe that he had dreamt of Yami of his own free will. There was just no way that could be true!

"You were expecting me to show up, weren't you?"

"You're here aren't you?"

"Yes, but he was here first. And rather aggressive, I might add. Do you really think so poorly of me or is that how you prefer it?" Yami taunted, relishing the return of embarrassed Kaiba.

Stuttering, Kaiba protested, "I—no, that's…it's just that you're always so damn persistent! I don't know, just get rid of it!"

"Then again, he could prove useful," Yami said, mulling over the possibilities, narcissistic as it might be. At least there wouldn't be any arguments about positions that way…

One look at Yami's perverse smile gave Kaiba all the indication he needed as to what the other was imagining. "It's not going to happen, so whatever you're thinking about, just forget it."

Feigning disappointment, Yami teased, "But he just seems so eager to please, doesn't he? And while he's otherwise occupied, I could—"

"Damn it, Yami!"

"What?" they both asked in unison.

Returning his attention to the one that was still in his grasp, Kaiba told it, "You're not him, so shut the hell up and you," he addressed Yami with a pointed look, "either you get rid of it or else."

Disregarding the threat, Yami stood up from his chair and closed the short distance between himself and the pair. "Fine, fine, let go of him."

Doing as he was told, Kaiba released his grip, but he still was unsure about what was going to happen next. Only then did it occur to him that by asking Yami to do this, it would mean that he would most likely have to do something in return. That thought was not at all pleasant, but it was a bit late for that now, he supposed.

"Still, it's a shame to let him go to waste," Yami mused, reaching out to raise his double's face toward him. "Then again, I don't exactly feel like sharing," he concluded with a wicked grin, removing his hand and with a dismissive gesture, the imposter was transformed into wisps of smoke that dissipated into nothingness. With that done, Yami instantly took the place the other had been occupying.

Kaiba could only give a resigned sigh, finally settling on saying, "You're absolutely exhausting, you know that?"

"You're saying that now? I haven't even done anything yet."

"In general, asshole."

"I have to say, I am a little relieved, though," Yami confessed, shifting himself into a more comfortable position that elicited a sharp breath from Kaiba.

What else could he do but play along at this point? "Why's that?"

"At first I thought it might be Bakura in disguise."

"At first?" Kaiba repeated. "Just how long were you watching?"

"Long enough to figure out that it wasn't him. After that, I just wanted to see how far the other me got."

Ignoring the latter comment, Kaiba questioned, "Why would Bakura be in my dream?"

"Even though the spell was written specifically for my situation, he might try to find a way to use it to free himself from the Millennium Ring. Aibou noticed that Bakura has been spending more time around Marik lately, and given that Marik is the younger brother of Isis, I was concerned that it might have been him," Yami admitted.

"That still doesn't explain why he would show up in my dream as you," Kaiba pointed out, trying very hard to quell his murderous intentions toward that meddlesome woman and her psychotic brother.

Yami didn't have an answer for why Bakura would show up specifically in Kaiba's dream, but he could at least answer about the appearance part. "It's easy enough to change forms, so taking on the likeness of another person wouldn't be an issue for someone like him."

"Like you used to show up as smoke?"

"No, that was a little bit different. I hadn't quite mastered maintaining a form at that early stage. It's more like this," Yami said and settled on a demonstration instead of trying to explain it any further. Focusing his energy, he morphed himself into Kaiba, figuring it was the most effective proof he could offer.

Suddenly coming face to face with himself was more than Kaiba could initially process. Stunned, the only thing he could think of to say was, "I'm taller than that."

Hearing himself explain, "This position would be a bit awkward if I made myself your full height," was beyond surreal, as was hearing a genuine laugh coming from this imitation of him.

It wasn't so much the laughter as it was the lightness in the eyes, the ease of the expression. No, normally he had an almost sadistic look as he laughed maniacally or scornfully at someone else; he never showed such a relaxed manner, not even in front of his younger brother. That broad smile was as natural as the smartassed smirk on Yami's face, but seeing those transplanted on to his own features, it just seemed so strange. The longer he studied this nearly identical version of himself, the more he began to think that perhaps this is what would rightfully be called Seto. Perhaps if he had never become a Kaiba, he would resemble this, would have such warm and caring eyes instead of such cold and hateful ones. It was a moot and overly indulgent thought, though and it was best not to dwell on such trivial things.

Sensing the shift in Kaiba's mood, Yami realized that maybe turning himself into Kaiba had been a mistake. Concerned, he called out to Kaiba, but there was no reply, only a searching gaze that made Yami feel slightly uncomfortable. Reaching out to touch Kaiba in an attempt to get his attention, Kaiba flinched away in response, the leather protesting at the sudden movement.

It was enough to bring him back to the present, though and he noticed another imperfection in the change, the ever present mark on the ear. Only this time it was on his body, an image that was deeply unsettling to him. It made him all the more grateful that the mark he had come away with was easily concealed. "I also don't have a mark there," he finally said, gesturing at it.

Wanting to break the solemn mood that had overcome Kaiba, Yami playfully suggested, "I can change that," and began kissing the other's ear.

Jerking his head away, Kaiba glared at Yami, something that was exceedingly difficult to do since he was being confronted by his own lustful eyes instead of the other's fiery crimson ones. "Don't do that when you're masquerading as me! It's fucking weird."

"So if I change back into myself, it's fine then?"

Kaiba was beginning to get a better appreciation for why people found his gaze so intimidating. There was something intense and highly predatory about it and he was becoming more and more disturbed by the turn of events. "Of course it's not fine!"

"You could always change into me if it makes it less awkward for you," Yami suggested, his voice low and teasing, sending a shiver through Kaiba as the other began kissing his neck softly.

"As much as I prefer it to be you on the bottom, I'm not doing that. Change back," he commanded, unsuccessfully trying to escape the other's lips.

"If you want me on the bottom, you're going to have to work for it," Yami informed him with another chuckle, letting one of his hands slip under Kaiba's shirt and caress the skin. It was an odd sensation now that his hands were larger as a result of his metamorphosis.

Drawing a shuddering breath, Kaiba forced the hand out from under his shirt, anything to get those fingers to stop ghosting over his flesh. "Yami," he said firmly, refusing to relinquish his grip on the wrist he was holding captive.

Having gotten Yami's attention, he watched as Yami's expression became more serious, becoming something akin to worry. Had Kaiba ever looked at anyone with such concern before? Mokuba perhaps, but he could think of no one else. Yami's version of Kaiba was far gentler than Kaiba himself was and he wasn't entirely convinced that it was just because of Yami's personality. "Which me is this?" he wondered aloud, confusing Yami further.

"I don't understand." Yami was going to change back into his own form, but something in Kaiba's eyes made him hold off a little longer.

"Which me did you base this off of?" Kaiba wanted to know. In the visions he had seen, even the ancient Egyptian priest they claimed he was the reincarnation of hadn't been this way.

Shrugging, Yami simply replied, "The you that I know."

"I'm nothing like this," Kaiba murmured, releasing his grasp on Yami in order to reach out and lightly trace the other's jaw line. Underneath his fingertips, he felt the bone structure shifting and he watched as the blue bled into red as Yami returned to normal. "Nothing at all."

"I would disagree with that."

"Of course you would," Kaiba countered, but there was no malice in his words. He wanted to shake off this uncharacteristically melancholy mood that had overtaken him, but it was proving to be difficult. He couldn't even redirect his emotions at Yami because what he had done was in an attempt to demonstrate something rather than an act of malicious intent. "So why are you really here?"

Covering Kaiba's hand with his own, he leaned into the caress. "Because I want to be," he replied matter-of-factly.

Allowing it for a moment before pulling his hand away, Kaiba asked, "Why?" still unsatisfied with that answer.

"Do I need a reason beyond that?"

"Yes."

"Why?" Yami asked, although Kaiba wasn't sure if it was a question that the other really wanted answered or if it was an attempt at lightening the mood.

"Because I need a reason."

Brushing the hair out of Kaiba's eyes, Yami was pleased that this time the other didn't cringe at the contact. Instead, he was looking at Yami expectantly with some amount of reservation, not that he could blame him for that. Tentatively, Yami tenderly kissed Kaiba, all previously lust replaced by something that could almost be taken for affection. Pulling back slightly, he breathlessly asked, "What kind of reason?"

"A convincing one," Kaiba replied, surprising them both when he leaned forward and initiated a second kiss. His arm snaked around the other's waist, pulling Yami closer to him as he entwined his fingers in that ridiculous tri-colored hair with his other hand, deepening the kiss without completely understanding his own motivation.

Content to go along with the languid pace, Yami allowed Kaiba to maintain control as he continued to enjoy the unusually intimate actions. A small noise of disappointment escaped him when they finally parted, denied when he tried to recapture Kaiba's lips again. "And?"

Sighing, Kaiba removed his hand from Yami's hair in order to run his fingers through his own. "I just don't get it," Kaiba finally said with another sigh, shaking his head.

"What's there to get?" Yami asked, watching Kaiba carefully.

"Why did I do that? Why did I do any of this?"

"Because your body is more honest than your mind," Yami replied, noting that even now Kaiba was absentmindedly running his thumb against the base of Yami's spine.

Sounding more frustrated than angry, Kaiba wanted to know, "And what about you?" Wrapping his other arm around Yami's waist, he interlocked his fingers as he continued to hold onto the other since he didn't know where else to put his hand.

"What about me?"

"Why me? Why not the mutt or someone else?"

With a snort of amusement, Yami wondered if it Kaiba was actually a little bit jealous to find out that Jounouchi had also gotten a visit from him, albeit an unknown one. "He's only a friend, and aibou's friend at that."

"So? I'm a rival, that's even more reason for you not to be doing this kind of thing." After a pause, he added, "Unless of course this is an attempt at humiliating more or something," tightening his grip in displeasure.

Taking Kaiba's head into his hands, he forced the other to look at him. "I'm not trying to humiliate you, damn it," he swore, trying to convey his sincerity through his eyes. Moving his hands to encircle around Kaiba's neck, he sighed and tried a different line of logic that he hoped would get through. Of course it would be easier to explain if he fully understood it himself, but he didn't really have much of a choice at the moment. "Here, let me ask you this: why do you love Mokuba?"

"Because he's my brother," Kaiba answered, unsure as to where this line of questioning was going.

"If you found out that he wasn't related to you by blood, would that change?"

"Of course not, no matter what, he's still Mokuba."

"It's kind of like that," Yami concluded.

"Explain?"

Yami was pleased that it sounded more like a request instead of a command, but he didn't let that distract him. "You care about Mokuba because of who he is, not just because of what he is, right?"

"Right," Kaiba agreed, although his tone of voice implied he still didn't fully grasp what Yami's point was. "But what does that have to do with this?"

Was he really going to have to spell it out that plainly? For once, he didn't think that the lack of comprehension could solely be blamed on Kaiba's continual denial. Maintaining eye contact so that the other would understand, Yami explained, "I'm saying that I'm here because it's you."

"And it has nothing to do with the fact that I'm your rival."

"Correct."

"But that still makes no sense," Kaiba asserted, causing Yami to drop his head against the other's shoulder and chuckle softly. "Don't fucking laugh at me, either."

Kissing his neck in apology, Yami asked, "Is it really so strange for someone to like you, Kaiba?"

"I'm a complete bastard," Kaiba protested with a touch of pride, knowing that his attitude was just one of the many factors that kept people away.

"So am I," Yami countered with another laugh as he snuck his left hand down to undo the top button of Kaiba's shirt. "What's your point?"

"People aren't supposed to like me."

"Says who?"

"Me."

Sliding his hand down Kaiba's chest, Yami successfully undid the next button on Kaiba's shirt. "Because you want to keep people away from you," Yami stated, quickly undoing the third button.

"Yes, and what in the hell do you think you're doing?" Kaiba demanded.

Popping the fourth button open, Yami lifted his head up and smirked at Kaiba. "What does it look like I'm doing? I'm undressing you."

"For what purpose?"

"Do you really have to ask that at this point?" Yami asked, undoing the last button and running his hand back up Kaiba's chest in order to push the shirt off of the other's shoulder. Brushing his fingers against the mark he made earlier, he noticed Kaiba's scowl and grinned in response. "I would think it's rather obvious, Kaiba." Leaning forward and kissing his handiwork, he couldn't help but be pleased with himself.

"And you better not do that again," Kaiba told him, trying to sound as menacing as possible.

"Which? The kissing," he asked, placing one on Kaiba's collarbone with an impish grin, "or the marking?" With those words, he nipped lightly at the same place, resulting in Kaiba jerking back with an angry look in his eyes.

Swearing, Kaiba placed his hand over the area as if checking for damage, threatening, "If you leave another bruise, there will be hell to pay."

Completely undeterred by the promise of punishment, Yami playfully asked, "So that means kissing is fine?"

"Of course not!"

It really was too easy to get Kaiba worked up, Yami decided, but that didn't stop him from teasing the other; if anything, it encouraged him. "Besides, what could you possibly do to me?" he wanted to know, antagonizing Kaiba further by kissing his neck.

Annoyed that he didn't have an exact plan to back up his words, all he could say was, "I can guarantee that you won't like it."

"Can you?"

"Excuse me?" Kaiba asked with a snort of disbelief. "I never would have figured you for the masochistic type, even if certain aspects of your wardrobe would try to convince me otherwise."

"If anyone is a masochist, it would be you," Yami countered. "After all, you're denying yourself something that enjoy."

"You think I enjoy this?"

"Back to this again?" Yami asked in amusement. "I'd be more than happy to prove you wrong."

Crossing his arms defensively against his chest, Kaiba smarted back, "I'm sure you would, but it's not going to happen."

"You do realize that all you're doing is further proving my point correct, right?"

"If you think that sort of reasoning is going to get me to agree to your perversions, you're wrong," Kaiba informed him, catching on quickly to what the other was trying to do.

Smirking, Yami was quickly falling into his dueling attitude in his attempt to persuade Kaiba. "Shall we settle this with a bet?"

Curious but distrusting, Kaiba simply asked, "A bet?"

"Since you claim to dislike this so much, all you have to do to win is not make a single sound of pleasure," Yami challenged, confident that he would be the victor. "If I win, we continue this during our waking hours."

Despite Kaiba's misgivings about the situation, he still set his own terms, "And if I win, you agree to stop invading my dreams and harassing me both here and while we're awake." The only reason Kaiba would even consider such a deal was because he knew that Yami's pride would make him honor the agreement. Besides, Kaiba would almost be guaranteed a victory; he had been trained to take any sort of torture silently and he was sure that those same skills could be applied to this situation as well.

"Does this mean you agree to the challenge?"

Hesitating for a moment, Kaiba finally agreed, "Fine, but no marks," still not believing that he had so easily consented. He knew that Yami was trying to find any way to get what he wanted, but if it meant he wouldn't have to endure this again, it would be worth it.

Satisfied, Yami wanted to fully capitalize on this opportunity and being relegated to a chair was far too limiting for what he wanted to do. "Would you object to a change in scenery?" Yami wanted to know as he removed himself from Kaiba's lap.

Standing up and stretching, he was just pleased that it finally gave him a chance to escape from the chair. "Go ahead," he said, hoping that it wouldn't be anything too extreme. It was too late to object as his sitting room dissolved into the riverside they had visited previously. "Is this the only place you know?"

"Is there somewhere else you'd rather be?"

Kaiba shrugged and said, "No, it's fine," deciding that a jibe about anywhere that Yami wasn't wouldn't gain him anything in this situation. "Now what?"

A/N: Sorry for the delay; I knew I was being too optimistic with my projections. The good news is, this is the first part of what turned into a very fun chapter. I think we can all see where this is going. But, I wanted to spare your eyes from having an almost 8,000 word lemon detour, so here's the first part. Second part goes up by Tuesday.

Part of the delay was my debating about how Kaiba would react to a second Kaiba. It's not the first time he's come across a double of himself (see the Noa arc), but that time was always in character and he was at enough distance that it wouldn't be too thought provoking. Having it in your lap and having expressions that you were trained never to show, I think it would be disturbing for him, especially if you play up the whole, "I just want my Nii-sama to smile!" wish of Mokuba's, because he would call that "Seto," and not "Kaiba," obviously. But I'm probably reading waaaay too much into it, as per usual.

Not a whole lot to add otherwise, save for my continued apologies for the delay. So please look forward to the next part, which has some much needed action. I'm putting the finishing touches on it, so this time there shouldn't be any reason for it to be late. Reviews are always appreciated!

NEXT CHAPTER: Body's Battle

Having accepted the challenge, Kaiba is determined to end this once and for all, but Yami won't give up without a fight. Is this the final dream or…?