Chapter Twelve – The Present

Yami's POV

I am not entirely certain if Seto came to bed at all last night – I fell asleep waiting for him.

"How did you sleep?" I ask him – his answer will tell me if he did…

"Not at all," he says casually, not looking at me. I'm vaguely surprised – I didn't expect him to actually tell me so… He doesn't look much worse for it; I suppose he doesn't sleep much. "Are you ready to go to school today?"

I blink. School… damn. Why couldn't Seto and I just have a few months to get completely comfortable with each other – for him to get completely comfortable with me – before we had to worry about anyone else getting comfortable with us? "Not particularly," I say, sitting up in bed. "And you don't want to go either, do you?"

"Not particularly," he replies. I wonder what he's doing over there – he hasn't looked at me once, just sitting at that desk…

"Seto…" I stand behind him, putting my hands on his shoulders. "Do you want me to stay away from you?"

He looks up at me, looking rather surprised. "Of course not," he says. "We're going to be arriving in the same car anyway, and I'm sure Yugi will need to explain to your friends why you aren't living with him anymore… it's simpler just to let it happen." He looks back down at the desk – he's messing with something… is that his locket? Doesn't he keep a picture of Mokuba in there?

"What are you doing?"

He glances up again and then shows me. Mokuba's picture is still there, where it has always been, safe and undisturbed. On the back of the cover, facing Mokuba's picture, though, is another picture, this one of me. Standing somewhere and smiling, with the stars as a backdrop… where did that come from?

"I don't remember that picture."

"Security cameras on the blimp… capture one frame, clean it up, zoom it in – eliminate your entourage… I think it was when Wheeler was winning or something."

I inspect it. Now that he mentions it… "No." I smile and kiss his forehead from above. "That was when you defeated Ishizu."

He shrugs. "Whatever." The locket goes back on, and he turns around in his chair to look at me. "We have to leave for school in about an hour…Mokuba should be eating breakfast in half an hour or so, so there probably won't be any food ready until then."

"It's all right – I still have to get myself presentable." I grab my brush from the bathroom and return. I think Seto was surprised to learn that my hair naturally does this – it's gravity-defying, I know. But it's my trademark – every life… well, not exactly like this, I guess, but close. I can't imagine my hair any other way. Just as I can't imagine Seto with eyes of any other color.

"Do you want anything I particular?"

"What, to eat?" He nods. "No, not really. You're eating though, right?"

Seto shrugs, and I frown and wrap my arms around his shoulders. "You are going to eat, right?"

He sighs and looks up at me, turning his head upside down. "I usually don't…"

I place a soft kiss to his lips. "You realize that you're too thin, right?" I run a hand down his chest. "I can feel your ribs, so don't argue. When I'm with you, I expect you to eat at meals. When I'm not around, you can do whatever you want, but when I'm here…"

He nods again. "Whatever you want. I'll try."

He deserves another kiss for that. "I appreciate it. You don't have to do what I want just because I want you to, though…"

"No, I want to." Eat? Somehow I doubt it. Do what I say? Probably.

With a sigh, I rest my chin in his head. "You want to do what I say to make me happy?"

"No. I just want to." He moves, shifting my head off of his, and stands up. "Let's go downstairs… there might be food."

I follow him downstairs, staying just behind him but not touching him. As much as I want to, Seto doesn't really need my contact, and he doesn't seem to want it very much. I'd rather – much rather – be able to walk around and hold his hand, like couples do, but he just isn't that kind of person. Too bad. I'd love to walk into school today with his hand in mine… Not only for the ability to touch him, but to see the reactions of our schoolmates. I'm sure many of them would be jealous. They all should be; he's beautiful, and intelligent, and strong, and responsible… everything anyone should want. And he's all mine…

"Hold up here," he says in the dining room as we enter. "I'll go get the cook to make us something…"

I push him down in the chair. "No, you wait here, I'll do it." His protests are easily silenced with a kiss, and I can escape to the kitchen. There's one servant there, apparently a cook, as he's fixing a plate for Mokuba. His surprise when I tell him that Seto is eating as well, and he barely manages to ask if I am as well. It's a little sad that Seto ever eating surprises them so much.

Seto seems a bit irate when I return. He doesn't like having his iron control over his own life overridden, though he obviously knows he needs it. Another thing that can be solved with a kiss. If I'd known it was this easy to make him happy and stop arguing, I think I might have kissed him earlier… Maybe during Duelists' Kingdom. Or Battle City. Seems like he could have used a kiss then, anyway.

He only picks at his food, but at least he has food. Mokuba bounces in only a few minutes later and sits down, talking around his mouthful of eggs.

"Good job, Yami! Even I can't make Seto eat!"

Seto touches his locket briefly, then sighs and actually puts a sausage into his mouth. Mokuba smiles broadly and continues inhaling his meal.

However, that is the only thing Seto actually eats. I can't really fault him, I suppose. It's more than normal. He doesn't eat much, or give in to others much. I appreciate that he tries.

He seems grateful after a while. "Time to go," he says; that must be why. He pushes his chair back and doesn't wait for us, escaping the breakfast table. Mokuba willingly pushes his plate away and runs after him, and I have to smile a bit at him as I follow them, sliding into the seat beside Seto and taking his hand, between our legs where Mokuba can't see. Not that he would notice anyway, chattering about, apparently, nothing over there, as he is. It's rather amazing, how Seto has his entire schedule planned out, down to the minute, so that he walked outside just as the car was pulling to a stop. I have to wonder if I'm inconveniencing him, messing with his impeccable agenda.

It only takes a few minutes for the car to arrive at Mokuba's school. He doesn't stop talking the entire time, and I don't hear a word of it. I doubt Seto does either, but he multitasks so well, he might, though I'm doing my best to distract him with the movements of my hand against his leg. Mokuba leans forward to squeeze Seto in a quick hug, before he slides out of the car and runs toward his school. Seto is smiling slightly, watching him out the tinted window as we pull away. I kiss him lightly, startling him.

"What was that for?"

He looks so cutely puzzled…. "For being so adorable. Were you actually listening to him?"

He nods. "Why wouldn't I? He was talking about how he was going to his friend's house to finish a project for science and he wouldn't be back until after school tomorrow."

My glee must be apparent on my face, because he smiles. "You should probably listen to him as well, if you want to know these things."

"Was it that obvious?"

"That you would love nothing better than to take me home now and keep me alone there until he comes home? Yeah, it is."

I smile slightly and pull him toward me; he rests his head easily against mine. "Would you be willing?"

"Not to skip school, no."

"But to stay alone with me?"

"Of course."

I smile and kiss the side of his forehead. I may be calm, but I'm so glad, so relieved to know that he trusts me. He isn't afraid of me… and I haven't lost him. I haven't got him yet, but I still have the chance.

"So…" The car is approaching the school but we're stopped by a red light and I have a few moments to talk to him still. "Why does Mokuba go to his friends' houses, instead of bringing them back to the mansion?"

He shrugs slightly. "Part of it is embarrassment… he doesn't want to be different from them, doesn't want to seem like he's showing off how much money he has. Also, I embarrass him. They all want to meet me, but inevitably I offend or scare them all and they don't like me. He figured out after a couple times that maybe it would be better to keep them away from me."

"Why do you push people away, Seto?" I ask quietly. He just looks straight ahead, and it doesn't look like he plans to answer. The car begins to pull to a stop, and I'm resigned to his silence.

"Let's go," he finally says. I blink, as he opens the door. I'd half expected him to answer me at the last minute. Of course, I already know the answer, but maybe he doesn't. He's scared. Of everyone. People frighten him, so he pushes them away…

I take his hand as he offers it to help me out, and keep hold of it as he tries to let go. Walking into school holding his hand is easier than I though; Ignoring the chagrin on his face isn't hard, as I pull him into the school and take a bit of pleasure from the faces of our schoolmates. Yes, of course, the shock and envy. I see a few people blushing, a few looking away in disgust, a few that seem to be trying to laugh, or trying not to. I don't care. Especially as, after a moment of reluctance, Seto quickens his pace a bit to get closer to me; I can read his body language better than he can read his own emotions, and he's scared. He wants me to protect him from them all. I am more than willing.

I manage to navigate us to our class without having to answer any questions, and Seto breathes a sigh of relief. Of course, it is destined to be short lived.

"Hey, Yami!"

My sigh is of something less than relief, but I keep Seto's hand held tightly in mine as I step over to Joey and Yugi, and the rest of our friends. As of yesterday, however, I could care less about them. I have Seto now, or the chance to actually get him, and I no longer need to think about them… and I would rather devote all of my thoughts and energy to him. Does that sound cruel or crass of me? Perhaps it is, but Seto is really the only thing that matters to me, and my hikari. I suppose I must continue to pay them attention to keep Yugi's spirits up, but that is probably the only reason I shall. And if they mistreat Seto in any way… I will not.

"Yes?" I say, wrapping an arm around my love. My intentions with him could not be any more clear… incidentally, the slight flush coloring his pale cheeks a faint pink is so incredibly alluring… And yet, cute. Very, incredibly, cute.

"Hi, Yami!" Yugi says, and surprises me with a quick hug. I find myself smiling a little, and remembering how Seto looked, watching Mokuba walk away. Our respective saviors, the two of them. "Are you having a good time with Kaiba?"

"Of course, aibou," I answer him gently, and squeeze Seto's hand. "I trust you are doing well without me?"

He nods and gives me a squeeze, then releases me and sits back in his desk. Joey clears his throat.

"So… you and Kaiba, Yami? That's a new one. Never would of guessed."

"Yes," I tell him. I squeeze Seto's hand again, but he doesn't respond, remaining tense and stiff. I frown slightly. Is it just being here and trying to talk to them, or…?

"How'd it happen?" Tristan asks. "Somebody get drunk? That KaibaCorp Christmas party get a little wild? That's about the only thing I can think of that would get Kaiba to loosen up enough…"

Given the fact that it is March, that's a slightly stupid suggestion, unless he's suggesting that we've been keeping this a secret for three months. I refrain from mentioning it, though, and frown at them. Seto is getting tenser and tenser, more withdrawn with every passing second. I think I understand why. They're not certain how to talk to or interact with him, so they're simply ignoring him, talking about him as though he isn't here.

"That really isn't your business," I tell them, and pull Seto away, toward his secluded desk in the back of the classroom. They're being so insensitive. Can't they see how it affects him?

"I'm sorry for them," I tell him quietly as I wrap my arms around his shoulders, pushing him down into his chair. "They didn't mean to be so cold…"

He says nothing and pulls out his books. I sigh again; these people are doing nothing good for him… Why can't I just keep him to myself for a while, get him more comfortable…? He isn't prepared to deal with idiots…

I kiss his jaw lightly. "Seto, don't do this…" I whisper to him. "Just ignore them… I'm the only one that matters now. Just like you're the only one that matters to me."

He relaxes slightly. "Promise?" he whispers. I smile slightly. Him and his promises…

"Promise." I seal it with a kiss, and he allows himself to relax into it. Even now, after all this time… all these lives… he believes me when I promise him. He knows I'll do everything in my power to keep it. And he's right.

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Yes, I know, It's 'would have'. However, he wouldn't say 'would have'. I'm not writing his accent, but he still would say 'would of'.