Chapter Six

Malik jolted awake. For a second he didn't remember where he was, and then it all came back in a rush. The shadow realm. Of course. So that was a dream he had just been having, that he was about to screw Yugi. Strange, he thought, I've never found that kid even slightly attractive. And why the heck had the dream taken place at Joey's apartment? He hadn't been back there since Joey betrayed him.

Oh hell, he thought, I must be finally cracking up.

For the second time that night, Kaiba and Joey were startled awake. This time it was Kaiba's phone. He answered it, muttering about how he wished he could just turn it off, to which Joey's mind was to asleep to retort why the hell couldn't he.

"Well that's nice," Kaiba said as he hung up the phone. "Yami just showed up stoned at Ryou's place."

"Good, at least now we don't have to worry about him doing anything stupid," Joey said, then started laughing at his logic.

Kaiba rolled his eyes. "So much for sleeping," he groaned. Joey snuggled into the crook of Kaiba's arm. "Maybe for you," he said, and already his eyes had fluttered shut.

Kaiba lay awake in bed for the remainder of the night. Joey, in his sleep, continued to inch closer to Kaiba until is was nearly on top of him, his even breaths tickling Kaiba's bare chest. There must be a god up there somewhere, Kaiba thought, to have sent this angel to me. He almost wished that Gozaboro was there now, to see that you could have a successful business and also love someone, a fact that his adoptive father had drilled into him as impossible. But he knew that Gozaboro would have found some way to ruin it. Some way to keep him from ever being truly happy.

At six 'o'clock, Kaiba's watch started beeping, signaling that is was time to wake up. He untangled himself from Joey, who was still asleep, and went into the bathroom to shower. He walked out again to find Joey still asleep, and decided to leave him there while he went down to breakfast.

"Sleep well, big brother?" Mokuba asked when he entered the kitchen, a smirk on his face.

"Yes," Kaiba responded.

"Well, I guess you would have after you…"

"After I what?" Kaiba asked, his face impassive.

"You know…" Mokuba replied, wiggling his eyebrows. "How was it?"

"None of your business," the older boy muttered.

"So you did! I knew it Seto, I knew it!" Mokuba bounced delightedly around the table.

"That's quite enough," Kaiba said, although a smile was trying to work its way onto his face.

"Aw, you're not going to tell me about it?" Mokuba gave his brother puppy-dog eyes.

"You know those don't work on me,"

"They work when I do them," Joey said from the doorway. Kaiba turned around. "What'd ya want to know, anyway? The blond asked Mokuba.

"Unh, nothing!" Mokuba said, blushing as he ran out of the room.

"What was that all about?" Joey asked, slipping his arm around the taller boy's waist.

"My little brother is far too nosy for his own good." Kaiba kissed Joey's forehead.

"Ah, so he knows."

Kaiba nodded.

"At least he's not freaked out."

"True," Kaiba said, "Although I have to wonder why he was so interested…"

"What, you think Mokie's gay?" Joey asked.

"Maybe."

Joey chuckled.

"What?" Kaiba asked.

"I can't believe it. You didn't know?"

"Know what?"

"Mokuba's been going out with his friend Miles for at least a month now. I saw them making out in the den a few days ago."

"That little—why didn't he tell me?"

"I guess he thought you knew, since he'd figured you out ages ago." Joey said.

"But he's only thirteen!" Kaiba spluttered.

"How old were you?" Joey retorted.

"That's not the point."

"Well then what is? Do you have a problem with Mokuba's sexuality? Because I don't think you can."

"No, it's not that…"

"Then what is it, Seto?"

"I just don't want him to be hurt. It's be the same if he were dating some girl. I know, I need to stop being an over-protective big brother, but I can't help it. After all I've seen with Marik and Yugi and Ryou and everyone, I'm just worried."

"Aw Seto, that's so sweet," Joey said, "But you gotta let him have experiences. He's going to have to do it sometime, what's the difference between now and three years from now? It would prob'ly hurt more then anyway."

"I know, I know, I just want what's best for him."

"I know ya do. So let him go. An', ah, could ya do me a favor and not tell him I said anything? He'll tell you when he's ready."

"Of course."

(Going back in time)

Ryou splashed icy water into Yami's face. The pharaoh bolted upright cursing. Bakura glared down at him.

"So what happened," He asked again.

Yami looked around, dazed. How the hell had he gotten here?

"What time is it?" he asked hoarsely.

"Three AM. Now tell me what happened and why you got me up in the middle of the night." The tomb robber snapped.

"It was Yugi. He-he left me for Marik."

"What?" Ryou shrieked. "Bakura, did you know about this?"

"No, I can honestly say that I haven't spoken to that jerkwad since… well the last time I spoke to him."

Ryou rolled his eyes.

"You mean when you raped Joey?"

Bakura cringed. "I prefer not to think about my horrible lapse in judgment, but yes, that is the last time I spoke to him." He turned back to Yami, "So have you seen Yugi since you found this out?"

"Yes, that's how I found out. I thought he'd been kidnapped, but then I went with Joey and Kaiba to Joey's old apartment—that's where they are—and I saw them. I can't believe he would do something like this?"

Bakura looked questioningly at Ryou.

'Did he ever mention anything to you?' he asked through the millennium ring.

'No. Not about that… but he was always going on about how he hates that everyone treats him like a little kid'

'But he is one.'

'See, that's exactly what he meant. I think he wanted to prove that he wasn't.'

'Oh that's great.'

"Um, guys? I'm still here," interrupted Yami, who could not hear there conversation.

"Sorry Yami, but if Yugi doesn't want to come back, I can't help you." Bakura said.

"I-I know," the pharaoh replied, fighting back tears. "I just don't want Marik to hurt him, and me not be there to help."

"I know how you feel," Bakura said, pulling Ryou close to him. "He means the world to you." And Ryou knew he wasn't just talking about Yugi.

Yami nodded.

"I'll see what I can do," Bakura said gently, "But I'm not making any promises."

(A/N: pleaaaase review! I know people read it, I see the hit count, but no one's reviewing! I don't care if you just say 'hi' or 'that sucked' but please, give me some feedback here! I feel like no one cares!)