Title: A Christmas Carol – Revised.
Chapter: Redemption
Disclaimer: …I'm not scared about Santa coming to town half as much as the lawyers, so heck no, I don't own it and I ain't making a dime.
REVIEW REPLIES:
Malik Fangirl: -Chuckle- I agree. I like Ryou's accent though. It's ridiculous, because he's probably not supposed to be British, but it's cute. (I'm stuck with dub for most stuff and thus, I've never heard Jap. Bakura.)
pennypigeon: Ahh! Thank you! I am in your debt.
dragonlady222: But, of course. He was the only other spirit handy. Indeed. Bakura will always be Bakura. –Laughs- Yeah, I think Serenity works a little better. The last thing Yugi needs is another 'short joke.'
bringer-of-death-and-sorrow: Thank you! I needed a fourth review...and yes. Good guess.-
-
A jab. A sharp, painful, bony-handed jab. Another, another, another. Over and over like rain, gleefully flinging itself towards the earth in a suicide mission.
He groaned and pulled a pillow over his face. "Go away, Mokuba…I'm not waking up at four in the morning to open presents again!"
Another –insistent-, more painful jab.
"Mokuba…" Seto growled, tugging the pillow more over his head, hiding his cobalt eyes from the blinding glow around him. "I said, go away. Wake me in two hours, at LEAST! Unless you have a giant thermos of coffee handy."
Another jab, this time in his stomach. That one hurt.
Seto threw the pillow off the bed, then turned around, expecting to see Mokuba in his pjs, clutching a plushie and grinning at him like he was trying to imitate a flashlight. "You'd better have that therm…MALIK?!" Seto gaped. "Oh, hell…no."
Amazing as it was, although Seto didn't realize it at that time, the brunet was staring straight into the eyes of the one and only…Marik. Not the lighter side, the hikari who was healing from the mental and emotional wounds…no.
Rather, the evil soul who was sent to the shadow realm and had remained there, out of thought of all the inhabitants of Domino City—save one. Marik was back. He looked less psychotic, somehow. More like the normal Marik. The maniacal gleam in his eyes had disappeared, making him seem much more solemn.
Seto, thinking that this was just another visit from a freak, he started to pound on his mattress in agony. "Leave me ALONE, please!"
Marik rolled his eyes. "Ssssh!" He adjusted the black hood on the dark cloak his was wearing so that the clothing would hide his face. He motioned for Seto to follow him.
Seto growled at him. "No. I –want- sleep."
Marik shook his head violently, eyeing Seto sternly. Again, he insistently, violently made a jerking motion that –screamed- 'Come ON!'
Seto crossed his arms stubbornly. "Make me."
Marik's eyes narrowed angrily and he drew in a deep breath, obviously counting to ten or something and making several promises not to throw Seto into the shadow realm. He walked up to Seto calmly and grabbed him by the arm, gently tugging on the brunet in a voiceless order for him to come.
Seto jerked his arm away. "No."
"Please!" Marik whispered, urgently. For a moment, he looked truly like his hikari, almost innocent eyes holding an air of desperation.
Seto's eyes widened, either at the expression, the polite demand, or the urgency it held. Or maybe just at the fact that Marik was whispering. "Wha…? Why are you whispering?"
Marik's eyes nearly popped out of his head and glared at Seto again, any form of innocence vanishing. "Ssssh! I'm…I'm not supposed to talk." He whispered, glancing around fearfully.
Seto glared at him. "WHY?"
Marik nearly jumped out of his skin. "Sssh! Please! I'm…the spirit of Christmas yet to come, okay? I'm not supposed to talk because…if I say too much, I could reveal more of the future then any mortal is allowed to see and I'm NOT about to blow this."
Seto peered at him skeptically, trying to find any kind of honesty in the hooded face. "Why, exactly, did you get caught up in whatever this is, provided I believe you really here."
Marik was very, very quiet at the moment. Somehow, the emotional silence made it all the moment even more solemn then it had been before. "I…they…promised me that I could—" His breath hitched for a moment and he shook his head violently. "Not now. You have to come with me."
Seto twitched for a moment, then uneasily got out of bed. "So, you'll take me to see scenes of my future, then?"
Marik shrugged. "Well, not that there's much to se—" He clapped a hand over his mouth. He looked around, uneasily. "Don't ask questions. If they hear me, I'll get in trouble. Just be quiet and follow."
Seto watched Marik enter the portal from which he came and shivered unconsciously. It looked so dark, so light-less. It almost hurt to look at…he saw Marik return from the portal and motion for him to follow once again.
Not quite sure why he couldn't resist the call to follow…Seto stepped into his future.
----
It was utter darkness; almost as hopeless as the shadow realm…it took a long time before Seto found any kind of light. As with the other spirits, an eerie glow illuminated Marik and slowly lit the void around them, yet it still was bright by any means. In fact, the darkness looked even more menacing as light breathed into it.
Marik stared straight ahead, entranced in the role, which he had to play…stiff and silent, he motioned for Seto to continue, to keep following, seeing as the dragon-lover had frozen in amazement…or perhaps, horror.
"Where…are we?" Seto asked softly, staring at Marik, seeing as he felt a…strange fear to look at anything else…not to mention the human impulse to seek out light in the darkness. The instinctual desperation for hope, for safety.
Marik stared back at Kaiba solemnly as they walked, then quietly whispered "The passageways of time. A realm in between all times, connecting this world to all others. Stay close, or you –will- regret it. I barely know my way through here…and if we make one wrong turn…we could both be lost forever."
"Wait a second…you mean, we're –really- going to the future?" Seto whispered, following Marik's example.
Marik nodded solemnly. "Yes…to let you know, though, it'll be like before. You'll be like a ghost…invisible, intangible, inaudible—people won't even be able to smell you." Out of the black, Seto heard Marik yelp.
"Wha…?" Seto asked, flinching and twitching from the sudden exclamation.
Marik was twitching himself. "I told you I wasn't supposed to talk! I think they said they'd let that one go…"
Seto frowned. "Who's 'they?'"
Marik shook his head silently, not –daring- to say any more if he could help it. Nope, someone had his lips –sealed-…of course that's the price you pay for being allowed to mess with the future of mankind.
Marik guided him to a portal and they both stepped through, into a familiar room…yes, familiar…in fact, he'd seen it only an hour ago, hadn't he?
"Why are we in Yugi's living-room again?" Seto asked, glancing around for any signs of the multi-colored duelist. Seto paused for an answer, then remembered. "Right, you can't talk."
Marik sighed, rolling his eyes…and, it was about that point when Yugi entered the room.
Seto stared for a good long time, trying to figure out why 'Yami' had purple eyes…until he realized that Yugi had just gotten taller. This must have been, like, a year into the future or so…
"Last minute growth spurt?" Seto guessed, smirking. "That certainly took a while."
He heard Marik snickering faintly at the comment, but the 'ghost' did not reply, attempting to bite back any other comments.
Seto realized, with some surprise, that in spite of the festively decorated room and his newly acquired height, Yugi was…crying. What for? Seto's ears pricked up at the faint, controlled sobs.
"Aibou?" Yami entered the room, concern written all over his face. He came up behind Yugi and put his arms around his hikari gently. "Aibou…are you okay?"
Yugi wiped his eyes and sighed softly. "I…just got off the phone and…oh, Yami…I wish we could do something to help him. I can't imagine how alone he feels."
Yami nodded, nuzzling into his partner's hair and trying to console him. The former spirit could remember two incidents where he could relate to such sorrow. The horrible solitude of the puzzle…and the time he'd lost Yugi to Dartz. Inwardly, he shuddered from the memory. The only difference was that, eventually…everything turned out all right.
"I know, love." He sighed softly, giving Yugi a gentle, loving squeeze. "But, there's only so much we can do…"
Yugi sniffed. "So, we can save the world but we can't help our friends?" He asked, a slight bitterness in the tone.
Yami got Yugi to turn around so they could look into each other's eyes. He stroked his aibou's face lovingly. "There are some things, Yugi, that no one can change. There are some things that not even magic can fix."
Yugi sighed and embraced Yami, snuggling into the comfort his lover freely gave. "I know…I just wish…" He trailed off softly, then shook his head. "Can we visit him, Yami?"
Yami smiled sadly and nodded. "Of course, aibou. We'll do everything we can to help him."
"You know…you and Seto never got along. Not even when you were fighting on the same side…but, you did really care about him anyway, didn't you?" Yugi asked, placing his hand on the former-pharaoh's tanned cheek.
"Well…I think you rubbed off on me, love. It'd be cold of me not to care, anyway. Seto becoming our rival was probably the most help we got from anyone." He chuckled softly, a solemn sort of amusement.
Yugi agreed with that sentiment and asked if they could leave that very moment…with some reluctance, though very little, Yami agreed and they both got properly dressed and left. The room faded away like their forms, vanishing in the distance.
Seto stared, warily, in the direction that the game kings had disappeared. "What? What was Yugi crying about? What does this have to do with me…?" Seto asked. In his the pit of his stomach, he could feel the impending doom.
Marik shook his head silently and walked away from the void, which used to be Yugi's living room. Seto reluctantly followed and observed that Marik was leading him to yet another portal.
---
Stepping through the dark purple void led Marik and Seto to a room that Seto found just a little –too- familiar. It was a room in Kaiba corp. where important business meetings where held. Several 'suits' where sitting around a long black table in a long, elegant room. The guy at the head of the table, which was NOT Seto to Seto's annoyance, began speaking.
"As some of you know, I'm taking control of Kaiba Corp. momentarily, in Mr. Kaiba's absence. It shouldn't be too long before our C.E.O is ready to take his company back…until then, I trust we'll do our best to keep things running?" The 'leader' asked, glancing around the room with analyzing eyes.
Everyone around the room nodded affirmatively and there were a few solemn smiles that showed further agreement with the sentiment.
"Now, we have some changes to discuss…they won't be too drastic and I trust you'll find them necessary and beneficial…I'm sure Mr. Kaiba will also approve." The man smiled, again, solemnly…but there was some sort of glint in his eyes that Seto did –not- like.
"What on earth are these people doing here? I don't even recognize half of them!" Seto glared around the room, confused and irritated. "And where am I?"
Marik didn't get a chance to respond, just yet…
"--Yes, in the midst of a tragedy, Kaiba Corp. will thrive! We will insure the company's future—" He babbled on for a while, but Seto was still stuck on what'd he said.
"Tragedy?" Seto echoed, no longer able to deny the creeping feeling of…some dark shadow. This future—why? Seto felt some sort of pull, yet again. "What tragedy?"
Marik remained silent, but there was a knowing look in his lavender eyes. A glint, not evil, per se…but Seto –still- didn't like it. Marik –knew- what he was going to see, obviously.
The cloaked spirit pointed to yet –another- portal. They stepped toward it, but Marik stopped short, one step away from the entrance…there was an uneasy silence and the whole world stopped for a moment. Then Marik stepped through and Seto followed.
---
Instantly, he felt chilled…as if he'd just stepped into a freezer. The first thing he saw was trees…barren, winter-struck trees, reaching their bony fingers up the heavens. The next thing he saw was a rough-carved dirt path slithering through the snow. And then…stones, hundreds and hundreds of stones peering out over the sleek, white blanket.
Round, smooth stones, statues of angels, several dead and shriveled flowers--a cemetery.
Seto glanced around in confusion and apprehension at the empty field of graves. From the heavy barred fence to the bare sakura trees, he could see no one, save Marik and himself. Then, giving the land another once over…he saw one ray of sunshine through the gray surroundings.
To his amazement, the one person left –breathing- in the graveyard was…a familiar face. He had to go up to this person, just to be sure, but it turned out that…he was right.
It was everybody's favorite blond mutt: Joseph Wheeler.
Seto eyed the blond warily, seeing that he was standing in front of a tombstone with unshed tears deeply rooted in his amber eyes. There was pain, anger and sorrow all practically radiating off Joey like beams from a lighthouse.
"I thought Joey's sister was just going blind, not dying!" Seto shot a glance at Marik, raising an eyebrow. 'Gee, no wonder the mutt is about to bawl.'
Marik snorted and rolled his eyes, muttering about Seto's stupidity under his breath, but otherwise, the specter said nothing. He simply shook his hooded head and motioned for Seto to pay attention.
The brunet frowned, annoyed, but…at the same time, he felt a sort of sympathy for Joey in this moment and since he had no where else to go, he might as well stick around.
Joey was muttering under his breath as he shoved his hands further into his pockets. His lips curled in an angry scowl as he tried to hold back the tears. "You…you idiot. You stupid, stupid idiot. Gettin' yourself killed." He muttered, angrily swiping at a tear.
Seto jerked back a bit. Joey was always so sweet with his sister and everything…if anything happened to Mokuba, Seto knew he wouldn't be angry. He'd be devastated. Angry at whoever was responsible, sure, but…something was a little off. "Harsh." He murmured.
Marik snorted again…but remained silent. 'You're clueless.'
"I hate you, ya know dat? If you can hear me, don't you dare think this means that I don't hate you!" Joey yelled, clenching his fists. "'Cause I do."
There was a pause as he bowed his head and blond strands slipped over his eyes. "You're such a jerk. How could ya just leave us like that? But ya don't care, do ya, you selfish, heartless son of a…" He growled, then laughed bitterly. "No, I don't think even –that-'s a good enough insult."
Another pause…he wiped away another tear. "What about us? How you left us all here, to pick up da pieces? Not that you care. Ya know, you always said dat nothin' could ever take ya down…ya always believed you were invincible. Well, we know da truth now, don't we?" A bitter chuckle.
Seto didn't like how this was sounding. Not at all. The only person Joey talked like this to was…was—no. No!
"What about Mokuba, huh? What about HIM? Now he's just a shell of da boy he used ta be and he's all alone. He blames himself, ya know. What about him?" Joey's fists hung at his sides, in spite of the bitter cold…and they shook with the contained rage. "What about me?"
Joey looked up, the blond strands that had been hiding his eyes moments ago fell back, revealing the burning honey color beneath. "I never got to tell you how much I hated you…" Joey trailed off.
Seto's eyes were glued to the blond in front of him. The expression on Joey's face--anger, sorrow, disappointment…and something else. He couldn't believe his eyes.
"I never got ta tell you…how much I love you." Joey whispered. His wind-slapped cheeks turned slightly redder, in spite of the fact that they were already red from his anger and tears. " That's right, Seto Kaiba. I loved you…ya jerk."
"I hated what you did…what you said. You always made me so –angry-…I couldn't even stand to be around you, ta look at you. But, believe it or not…I loved ya."
He sniffed softly, brushing his messy bangs out of his eyes again, along with another tear. "Maybe ya still just hate me. Maybe I should be glad that ya left so I never had ta make a fool a' myself. But I'd give anythin' just ta hear you call me 'mutt' again…an' I hated dat most of all." Joey sighed, standing up straight with steely look in his eyes.
"Mokuba needed ya…an' I know ya'd want someone lookin' afta him…so I will. Afta all, we both lost someone." Joey murmured, softly. He stared at the writing on the tombstone in front of him for a lingering moment…saying one last goodbye, for now.
Joey walked down the rough, dirt path back to the black gate of the cemetery. Mokuba had just trudged up to it and his eyes were about as red as Joey's, if not more so…and though the blond's messy hair made it a bit harder to tell, it was obvious that they'd both been crying heavily.
"Hey…Joey." Mokuba greeted, sound a bit hoarse and the normally cheerful greeting was very solemn. "Were you visiting him?" He asked softly, gazing up at the blond.
Joey smiled weakly, feeling his pity for the young teenager return. "Yeah…I was." He tousled Mokuba's hair as Seto would have done.
Mokuba returned the weak smile, not looking any cheerier for it. "You…really did care about my brother, didn't you, Joey?"
Joey nodded, albeit shakily and sighed. "Well, yeah. I mean, I know we didn't get along, but…I nev'a wanted this ta happen." He slipped his hands back in the pocket of his long coat.
Mokuba, not trusting his voice, merely nodded mutely and, after a moment, he cleared his throat. "Uh…Joey…you wanna…walk with me for a bit?"
Joey nodded and strode up along side the raven-haired teenager and they walked together, two souls sharing each other's pain…somehow, they could feel that, in the silence, all that needed to be said was said.
Mokuba felt the burning ache ease, if only for a fraction of a second, to know that he was not –truly- alone…even if the wounds would never truly heal. As for Joey, only time itself had any knowing…
The two forms faded into the streets and beyond the horizon, but the cemetery remained firmly in place.
Seto stared, confused and shocked…speechless and paler then any of the spirits that had visited him on this night. In coherent words tumbled through his mind, but he didn't have the strength to form any audible reaction.
Instead, he gazed, through hazy and almost sightless eyes at the pale, gray stone that amber eyes had once beheld with contempt and sorrow. He read over the inscription, almost thoughtlessly…and feeling a drawing force once again, he knelt in front of the grave and touched the markings…
---
"I hate you!" Mokuba yelled, effectively halting a shouting match between him and his towering brother.
There was a pause of utter shock, followed by anger, hurt…confusion. "No, you don't." Seto replied as an edge of uncertainty laced through his voice, almost cracking the proud façade.
Mokuba's fists balled up in anger. "Yes, I do! You can't tell me what I feel, Seto! Especially since you don't HAVE any feelings! And if you're so sick of hearing me "lecture" you, then maybe I should just leave you alone…that's IS what you want, right?" He snapped, glaring and storming out of the room to grab his coat.
"Mokuba! MOKUBA! Mokuba, get back here!" Seto yelled after him. He just managed to catch a glimpse of the teenager in the hallway, grabbing his coat and dashing out the door.
Seto followed likewise, shouting for his brother to have some –sense- but Mokuba didn't listen…either unhearing or uncaring, Mokuba continued to run, tears of hurt and anger welling up in his eyes.
As Seto raced after his brother, calling out his name…a truck came speeding along down the road near their house. Seto didn't notice the vehicle, still trying desperately to catch up to his brother…but Mokuba saw it all too well.
He screeched to a halt as he realized what was about to happen…and turned and screamed his brother's name, trying to warn him…but…
It was too late.
The next five seconds were the longest and most scarring of Mokuba's entire life.
The large truck viciously slammed into Seto's body and his steadily chilling form lay crumpled in the street. Mokuba felt a feeling of bone-chilling horror rush through his veins…
"Se…to?" Mokuba asked softly, the name coming out in a strangled cry. "Seto?! SETO!" He ran to his brother's broken body…
Mokuba felt tears streaming down his face as he reached his destination and he trembled as he reached out to Seto's face, eyes shut…breathing stopped…life had drained from his face almost instantly.
"I don't hate you, Seto." He sobbed. "I didn't mean it! Please…please…you can't leave me. Please, brother…Seto…don't leave me. I didn't mean it!" He clutched Seto's body to his small form and cried out in anguish.
---
Seto gasped as if breathing in air for the first time while his dilated eyes were suddenly jerked back into focus and he panted for a moment. It was as if…he'd felt that…that memory.
Marik stood beside him, silent in reverence…or just because he had to be. "Well, that answers that question." The spirit paused to snort. "Man…you suck."
"Thanks." Seto muttered. His heart crashed to the floor, like the pale, white face of a china doll shattering into a thousand pieces of nothingness. Its beauty forever marred by utter brokeness.
What on earth? Joey loved him? Mokuba hated him? His company was taken over by some cruddy suits while Mokuba was away?! The guilt flooded in like a tsunami and to top it off, he was dead.
Seto paused, staring hard at the tombstone in front of him which was clearly marked with the words 'Seto Kaiba, Rest In Peace, my brother.' "Wait…I'm DEAD?"
Marik cocked his head to the side thoughtfully. "Well, not yet, but I'm guessing that the tux, wooden box and pale face are supposed to indicate something."
"So…this is what's going to happen to me? Or, is this just what –could- happen?" Seto glanced back over to Marik, his icy-blue eyes burning into the blond's hood.
Marik shook his head, smirking. "I thought you didn't believe in any of this stuff, Mr. Skeptic. I thought it was all just a conspiracy against you and your too-smart-for-stories logic."
Seto faltered…trying to make sense of what was going on…and somehow, this all being a dream just wasn't a sufficient enough explanation. His pale, bluish lips opened to attempt some sort of argument…
Except, he never spoke. He couldn't, even if he wanted too…and even if he could, it was too late. The ground beneath him gave way, as if opening a wide, onyx mouth. Seto fell, catching one last glimpse of Marik's fading, illuminated form…and he knew no more.
---
Two solemn, cloaked and brooding figures stood in a darkened room, the lights in their eyes and of the candles littered about the room gave joy to the otherwise lightless, lifeless room.
There was a bright flash and another figure appeared, completing the collection of solemn witnesses to this night. The two previous figures glanced up and jerked back in a moment of surprise…but the surprise wasn't long lasting.
"So, they dragged you into this, too, freak?" Asked the first dark figure with a gleam in his russet eyes as he smirked like a jungle-cat in amusement.
The third figure nodded. "Yeah. Seeing you guys sure brings back memories."
The second figure nearly snarled at the mention, but restrained himself for the sake of decency, or perhaps, himself as he wasn't in the company of friends. "Bad memories. I would suggest against reminiscing."
The third figure flinched for a moment, before composing himself. "Still sore, huh, shiny-pants? Well, I didn't come here to grovel at your feet or anything, so I don't expect us to get along…but I'm not asking for any trouble."
The second figure, aka 'shiny pants' huffed "Whether or not you ask, I'm sure everyone back in Domino would be more then willing to offer."
The first figure nodded in agreement, smirking. "No kidding. Heh…this is a fine kettle of fish. Me, the freak, and shiny-pants…do either of you actually think this will work?"
The second paused thoughtfully, reddish eyes darkening. "We'll find that out soon enough."
---
Seto shot up in his began, springing to life and gasping, cutting off the soft scream that had been the product of…of what? He panted for breath, realizing that his body was sweat covered…
Glancing around the room warily, Seto sighed with relief, feeling the horror fade and knowing that he could breathe again. He was alive. Now to get some good…sleep? Seto blinked around the illuminated room. It was…daytime? "Bloody. I guess I won't be sleeping –after- all." He muttered, sighing.
All of last night assaulted his memory in a harsh blow—and, he felt…so many things. It was so hard to isolate one feeling. Thoughts deluged his brain until he was reeling from his muses and could no longer continue.
But…one thing remained present on Seto's mind. 'Mokuba…'
…And he smiled.
---
A lovely morning drifted in through the windows of a pale blue bed-room and a small figure, curled up defensively in bed, shielded his tear-stained face from the forceful wake up call…
Suddenly, he felt something pounce on him and he yelped, frightened…only to hear the sound of laughter. "Hey, Mokuba. Good morning."
Mokuba blinked, shocked by the appearance of his older brother…who was grinning like he'd cracked. "Seto?" He rasped, flinching.
Seto nodded enthusiastically, momentarily scaring his little brother. "Come on, sleepy head. It's Christmas Eve. Stockings, remember?"
Mokuba stared in utter shock, his mouth hanging open. "…Who are you and what have you done with Seto?"
Seto tugged on one of his raven colored locks. "It's a long story, kiddo. Though, if you'd rather listen to the story and wait to open our stockings tomorrow, -ignoring- our tradition…then, I guess—" (1)
Mokuba bolted up out of bed and shot down the hall. "Stockings first! Explanations later!" He called back, throwing a grin over his shoulder.
Seto chuckled fondly. "Hey! Wait for me! And…about that idea of yours…"
---
A sunny-blond who felt…more confused then actually sunny slowly trudged down the steps of a hospital building, shaking his clouded head. "What on eart' is goin' on?" He demanded of the sky, looking up with gratitude and…amazement.
He didn't have too long to wonder, however.
A black limo rolled up to the front of the building and Joey froze, no doubt left in his mind as to who owned the elegant vehicle. Most likely, it was a guy whose name started with "Se" and ended with "to."
Joey stared, mixed emotions deluged his mind for a moment and Seto stepped out of the limo. Seto saw him, locking his gaze on the blond as he strode forward. Their eyes met, but neither could read any kind of emotion.
With confusion and slight apprehension, Joey noticed that Seto was holding…something in one of his hands, but he couldn't see what it was. Apparently, the taller teenager was hiding it from him. 'What are you doin', Kaiba?'
Stepping closer until they were two feet apart, intentionally close enough to insist contact yet a safe distance to not seem aggressive, Seto stopped, lips twitching with a smile-to-be and spoke. "Hello there…mutt."
Joey growled defensively. "Whadda ya want, Kaiba?"
Seto chuckled, trying not to act…out of the ordinary. "Guess."
Joey's amber eyes blazed as he scanned the brunt with suspicion, but his shoulders slumped slightly defeat and he refocused his energies into staring a hole in the cement. "You…paid for my sista's operation…didn't ya, Kaiba?" Joey looked up, confused and wary.
Seto smirked. It would have been a smile, but he didn't really smile in public…if he could help it. "I might have…" Seto shrugged, feigning innocence.
Joey's eyes flashed with some unnamed emotion. "Why would ya do somethin' like dat, Kaiba? How'd ja even know!? I mean, not even Yug' knew about…" He trailed off, pausing to lip his dry lips. "I don't understand."
Seto kept the emotionless eyes as well as he could; though it was hard. "Word gets around, Wheeler. Besides…I have my reasons."
Joey could hear, almost –feel- the taunting edge in that sentence. He felt his face heat up. "Whadda ya want from me, Kaiba?" He muttered, restraining another growl. Surely, he'd have this 'favor' hanging over his head for all eternity.
Seto feigned shock and disbelief. "What do I want from you?" He asked, 'amazed.' "Nothing, mutt. In fact, exactly the opposite. I actually want to –give- you something." He smirked, a little deviously, making Joey flinch.
Joey eyed Seto, almost fearfully, but one thing was for certain…he was far from thrilled about whatever gift this sadistic C.E.O thought up. "Is it a collar?"
Seto's smirk got even wider as he mused about such an idea. Hmm…"Well, as fun as that would be, no." Seto chuckled, an impish twinkle in his cobalt eyes.
Joey cringed. 'Then it must be even worse.' The blond thought, shuddering. "Whatever, Kaiba. Just tell me already, okay?" Joey grumbled, predicting eternal doom for his future.
Seto risked a small, gentle smile and pulled out something…white and green…Joey was too surprised by Seto's expression and the object in his hands to react. But his mind did process one last coherent thought before it went into a state of shock. 'Mistletoe.'
Without a second thought, intending to do this as quickly as humanly possible, Seto held up his present and gave Joey a chaste kiss on the cheek. He grinned wildly. "Merry Christmas…Joey."
Then, Seto trotted off to his limo as if nothing happened…leaving a very confused, shocked and blushing blond in his wake. "Gaaaaah?"
--Until the epilogue, THE END!--
-
-
MEANING, IT'S NOT OVER. COME BACK FOR THE CONCLUSION IN THE LAST CHAPTER AKA EPILOGUE! (Seriously…)
REVIEW OR ELSE!
And just in case you were having a little trouble with the dark room: figure 1 is Bakura, figure 2 is Yami, figure 3 is Marik, but I –do- believe I dropped enough hints.
-Chuckles- And yes, I know I broke a rule. The third ghosty is never supposed to talk, but hey, it's Marik. Breaking rules is what he does.
Footnotes:
1: It's not Seto's tradition. It's ours. Every Christmas Eve my family opens stockings and every Christmas day we open presents.