A/N: Sorry I didn't this out last night like I promised. Long story short, I HATE credit/debit card hacker thieves and my roommate's jackass boss. But I got my other roommate to watch 'White Christmas' because she hadn't seen it before. She also hasn't seen 'Holiday Inn' or 'It's a Wonderful Life.' I will fix this. Then, after that when I was going to finish this and post it, we decided building a pillow and blanket fort in the common area of our apartment was much more important. ^^;

Chapter 63 summary: In which Kaiba apologizes and finally rests in safety, Moira's a bitch, Mai can't keep her nose and mouth shut, and Kaiba teaches.

Safety, Sniffers, and Shadows

The great god's huge, cobalt body, built like a sturdy, rugged mountainside loomed even though he knelt on one knee. The dwarfed Regent stood tall, facing the god without fear but full of regret. His pride gnawed at him for what he was about to do, but he knew it was the right thing. He also knew Obelisk had not deserved what he had done to him. He never regretted serving up well deserved justice, but only to those who actually deserved it. Obelisk had been innocent.

So it was with that in mind, that Kaiba Seto also knelt on one knee and bowed his head in apology. He fought past the hesitancy in his chest and managed to say in a strong voice, "I apologize for my...for what I did to you. It was undeserved and cruel, even for me. Will you forgive me?"

Kaiba sat unmoving listening to the silence permeating the space surrounding him. Far below, he could see the half shadowed disk of the Earth hanging suspended in the void of space. The moon was poking out from the shadowed side reflecting some of the sunlight. City lights twinkled in the night from the continents only to fade as the sun crawled across the North American continent.

When Obelisk finally moved, Kaiba could not help but tense in nervous anticipation. But he was not struck nor was he scolded. Instead, the powerful fingers that were known to reduce boulders to dust gently brush Kaiba's hair before curling and pressing against the Regent's chin. Obediently, Kaiba lifted his face and stared into depthless cobalt eyes even he as the Regent sometimes felt lost in.

The finger moved away and the hand opened up inviting Kaiba to step onto it. Cautiously, the Regent stood and crouched in the indented palm of Obelisk's hand, bracing himself as the hand lifted so the two of the Balance could be equals. After a few moments of heavy silence, Obelisk grumbled and Kaiba let out a sigh of relief.

Obelisk cupped his hand around Kaiba so the Regent could stand and hold onto one of his fingers to keep his balance steady. Kaiba watched his god bow his head to him, mumbling softly. The brunette shook his head.

"You have nothing to apologize for," he said. "Kohai explained what happened." He flushed slightly in shame. "I assumed you knew and I took my anger out on you. For that I apologize. It was not your fault. And I know why, even if you did know, you did not understand." He dropped his eyes. "And however much I still don't want to be immortal, at least I have you for my god and not a pet bird or a prideful snake."

Obelisk made a sound that Kaiba knew was laughter. A rumbling echoed in the void and Kaiba scoffed. "Tell them," he said. "I don't care. I'll tell them to their faces."

Obelisk made the laughing sound again and reached up to brush just under Kaiba's eye, murmuring a question. Kaiba's blue eyes softened.

"They're called tears," he said. "However much I despise crying, it still happens. I may not sob like a baby, but the body finds ways to relieve it's pent up emotions either outwardly though weeping and screaming or inwardly though ulcers and illness. I can't afford to be sick so I'm just careful who sees me when I loose myself." The resulting growl reverberated through the hand Kaiba stood on and the Regent nodded solemnly. "Only you saw."

Kaiba grabbed Obelisk's thumb when the hand that held him moved forward before being pressed to the god's sturdy chest and surrounded by both hands. Kaiba raised his eyes in surprise and saw Obelisk bow his head over top of him. It was both protective and affectionate and Kaiba suddenly felt incredibly out of place.

This was not something he was familiar with. He had only ever experienced this feeling a few times throughout his two lives. In his current life, only when Mokuba hugged him, when they both looked at the pictures framed in their lockets, and before their parents died. In his previous life as Set, he only experienced it before his father left him, before his mother died, when he joined the Shadow Court, and when he found Kisara.

Kisara.

The memories of what he and Seth had done before Kaiba came here to apologize returned and the Regent flushed. He leaned forward and rested his forehead against Obelisk's chest. He was still confused and troubled about what happened, but he also felt strangely comforted and whole. He no longer felt like he was the sole person in charge of taking care of everything. He no longer felt alone.

Obelisk crooned and brushed a finger against the back of Kaiba's head and down his back, gently petting him. Normally, such an action would have put Kaiba off; but since it was Obelisk doing it, someone Kaiba trusted implicitly, it felt comforting. It was not meant in a derogatory way, but as an affectionate cuddle. Obelisk was too big to do much else. Kaiba was essentially the size of a cat in comparison to Obelisk's size.

Despite himself, Kaiba relaxed, curling up in the indent of the palm of Obelisk's hand and leaned against the strong chest. The petting eased but did not stop until Kaiba's soul began to fall asleep, lulled by the strong protective comfort and affection Obelisk radiated. He never noticed when he fell asleep.

Mokuba woke slowly, lazily opening his eyes to find his sight filled with bedsheets and blankets that were not his. He only noticed the arm looped around his waist when he tried to get up and look around. He looked down and smiled, recognizing his bog brother's hand draped limply around his body. Careful not to dislodge the arm, Mokuba rolled over and smiled when he saw Set still sleeping soundly next to him.

This was Mokuba's dream come true. There were not in danger, they had no pressing appointments, it was just Mokuba and his brother. They were in Oliver's house, Roland was sitting comfortably at the foot of the bed keeping watch over them, and the best part was Seto was still in bed. He was also still asleep.

Mokuba's smile softened as he cuddled close to his brother's chest. Now that he thought about it, he had not seen his brother this completely vulnerable for a long time. It was adorable. He cuddled as close as he could listening to Seto's slow, steady heartbeat and soft breathing. He was able to snag about another half hour's worth of dozing before Seto finally stirred. Grinning, Mokuba closed his eyes and played possum.

Kaiba twitched and opened his eyes blearily. He felt rested. His soul had slept deeply after Obelisk had held him. A faint blush colored Kaiba's cheeks not from embarrassment but from happiness. He had someone who could offer him the support he needed when he wavered and not judge him or humiliate him if he slipped up and lashed out and always there to comfort and forgive him.

Obelisk had become the mother and father Kaiba still remembered but no longer thought of as his. Obelisk was his and he was Obelisk's. They belonged to each other on a level nothing, not even leaving behind the god card could separate. Kaiba sometimes wondered how deep that connection actually went but had decided it was best not to dwell on it until he had an entire day to devote to it, maybe even longer.

Speaking of things to think on, what he had let happen between himself and Seth, even if it had only happened between their soul manifestations in his soul room, it still happened. And Kisara had been there watching and purring and nudging both of their consciousnesses. Kaiba felt guilty for doing that to Seth and he could feel Seth felt the same.

It was too late to take it back now. Both he and Seth had enjoyed it far more than they probably should have but at least Kisara had not been offended. On the contrary, she had actually seemed to enjoy watching. She had always been less bothered by the idea and practice of sex than he had ever been, even as Set. Set had been raised in a culture when nakedness was natural, there was no reason to be started or offended by the body. But sex was something secret, something special only shared in private. When it was talked about in public, which was rare, it was usually referred to by flowery words and vague metaphors.

Then Kisara had come along with her forward thinking. She had kissed him first, startling him, and when their relationship had finally advanced far enough for him to feel comfortable with the idea, she had been the one in charge during the act itself. She was not a passive lover. She may have been the one on the bottom but she, to borrow the English phrase, topped from the bottom.

Seth had not been entirely passive either. Just the thought of the events before he apologized to Obelisk and finally allowed his soul to sleep made the faint flush blossom into a full on blush. He moved to sit up when he noticed the tufts of wild black hair directly under his nose. Mokuba.

He leaned just far enough back to see his little brother's face and smiled, his mouth still growing used to the foreign expression. He leaned over and pressed a soft kiss in Mokuba's forever messy hair. He would never dare to so this if his brother had been awake. It would have embarrassed him to no end. He wanted to be the strong, supportive older brother but while he was growing more used expressing his emotions, he was not yet comfortable with being entirely open with anyone other than Obelisk, Seth, and Kisara. He never wanted Mokuba to see him as weak.

But today was apparently not his day. When he leaned back after kissing his brother, he was horrified to see Mokuba's eyes open wide and staring straight up at him. Kaiba's heart stuttered but refused to back away from the challenge.

"Ohayo Seto," Mokuba whispered.

Blue eyes grew round before looking away. Mokuba wrapped his arms around Kaiba's chest and hugged him tightly. After a moment of hesitation, Kaiba returned the hug with one of his own. They cuddled for several more minutes before Kaiba began to get twitchy. He was fully awake now and wanted to move.

He reluctantly pushed Mokuba away and slid out of bed. He had slept in his clothes simply because he had not brought an extra pair. Then again, he had not been planning on spending the night here either. Kaiba groaned, rubbing his neck and forcing it to pop. Then he stretched, rolling his back and shoulders. The ensuing series of pops felt so good and made Mokuba giggle.

Shaking his head, Kaiba ran a hand through his hair as he looked around for his phone. Roland tapped him on the shoulder and handed him the device earning him a grateful pat on the arm. Kaiba quickly typed out a message to Mai asking her to bring his last clean pair of clothes with her when she came to the Verdant.

He pulled on his trench coat and boots and waited until Mokuba was ready. His little brother walked up to him and held out his arms. Kaiba sighed knowing exactly what Mokuba wanted. But when his little brother smiled up at him, Kaiba groaned and gave in. He knelt down and turned around, baring his back for Mokuba to climb on. The boy wrapped his arms around Kaiba's neck and gave a little jump to wrap his legs around his big brother's waist. Kaiba caught the small feet and stood bouncing his brother slightly so shift him to a more comfortable position.

A quick nod to Roland who was smiling indulgently and the bodyguard opened the door revealing Fuguta. Kaiba shook his head. How and when these two men found the time to sleep in between their duties was beyond the young CEO. He strolled out of the room with Mokuba on his back watching the world move over his shoulder. Kaiba hoped to slip out of the Queen manor with as little fuss as possible but people tended to throw plans out of whack.

"Good morning, Mr. Kaiba," Moria said, meeting him near the top of the steps.

Kaiba nodded. "Ohayo gozaimas," he muttered without bothering to bow. He had to watch how he shifted his weight with Mokuba on his back.

The older woman was pretty, Kaiba supposed. She had blonde hair which had obviously been touched up with hair dye. Botox had been used on her face and possibly other parts of her body Kaiba had no intention of thinking about as well. She had wrinkles lining her face and eyes. Kaiba had never asked Oliver why he did not trust his mother, but the CEO trusted Oliver's instincts.

"Are you leaving?" she asked, eyeing his little group.

"Yes," he said. "I have business to attend to."

"Of course," she replied, stepping aside for Kaiba to move down the stairs. "I do have one request." Kiba stopped and glanced at the older woman whose smile reminded him of a feline. "The next time you invite a...less than savory character into my home, I would like at least some notice."

"If you are referring to my friend, then she is hardly unsavory," Kaiba replied. "You however, are. She at least does not judge my appearance alone. Good day."

"You would insult me in my own home?" Moira Queen demanded watching Kaiba and his entourage leave.

"I believe that's what I did, yes," Kaiba said. "But then again, you insulted my friend. I believe the phrase, "Your reap what you sow" comes to mind." Mokuba snickered as Roland opened the front door and the group filed out to find a cab waiting. Kaiba glanced at Roland curiously. The man pointed to Fuguta who shrugged.

"I didn't bring the car," Fuguta said casually.

Kaiba grinned and let Mokuba down before climbing into the cab first. Mokuba sat in the middle and Roland slid in on the other side. Fuguta took the passenger set up front next to the driver and they drove off. Kaiba could not resist looking over his shoulder to see Moira watching them leave. He disliked the woman.

Kaiba walked right up to the club's front door and knocked. He was not surprised when Oliver pushed it open almost immediately.

"Hey," he said. "Come on in. Mai beat you here."

"Did she?" Kaiba asked, lifting an eyebrow in interest.

"She did," Mai said, stepping out and tossing a pile of folded clothes at Kaiba's face.

Unfortunately, Kaiba's reactions were not fast enough and he was promptly smacked in the face by a fresh shirt, coat, and pair of pants along with a smaller, matching set for Mokuba. The CEO pulled the clothes away and glared at his Sorceress but she just snickered.

Today Mai wore a long sleeved blouse with a leather jacket and a frayed denim skirt over fuchsia stockings. Her boots came up to her knee and zipped up the inner side as well as lace up the front. The heels were thick and clunked when she walked. She was ready to head out.

"Hi Mai," Mokuba said waving.

"Hey there Mokuba," she said with a bright smile. "Don't worry. Thea and I already have the froyo place picked out." She winked. "We'll be heading there after the old people take care of things."

"Old people?" Oliver said incredulously.

"You're older than I am by four years," Kaiba said blandly.

Mai merely waved dismissively. "Age doesn't determine whether someone is old or young. Their personalities do that." She paused and sniffed curiously. She turned to Kaiba with a curiously, leaning forward into the Regent's personal space. To Kaiba's credit, he did not lean back even though it was incredibly evident he wanted to. His eyes followed Mai's every movement and his face was dusted a gentle pink at the way the woman was literally smelling him.

"Can I help you in some way?" he said sarcastically.

Mai took a long sniff, blinked, leaned back and stared at Kaiba with wide eyes. Then she through her head back and cackled. "I knew it!" she crowed.

Thoroughly lost, Kaiba growled. "Knew what?" he demanded. But Mai was too busy laughing to answer. Frustrated, Kaiba crossed his arms and glared. "Knew what Sorceress?"

Mai pointed at him and tried to speak before devolving into laughter again. After a few seconds, she managed to control herself. Her grin became sly and flirtatious as she leaned back into Kaiba's personal space. "So spill," she said. "Was he a good fuck?"

Kaiba reeled back, dropping his clean clothes and staring at his Sorceress dumbstruck. "What?"

"Seth," Mai clarified. "Was he a good fuck?"

"Wait, you screwed your other self?" Oliver asked, trying to understand what was going on. "What about Kisara?"

Kaiba's face burned. "It wasn't like I planned it!"

"So you admit it!" Mai demanded. "He bottomed didn't he? I can't see you bottoming unless it's with Kisara."

Kaiba shook his head. "Will you just- UGH! Just stop!"

"What does Kisara think?"

"She was watching!" Kaiba paled when he realized what he had just said. "No. No, Mai. Stop. Just... Look, just-" Whatever he said next was a rush of Japanese that Mai just smiled and nodded to. Oliver doubted she would concede to Kaiba's demands or pleas.

Then again, the vigilante was having trouble seeing Kaiba having sex with anyone. Just last night Kaiba had been a virgin. Kaiba had spent the night in Oliver's house. He turned to the CEO and crossed his arms. "You had sex in my guest room?"

Kaiba whipped his horrified gaze to Oliver. "Kohai?!"

"Oh! Did you?" Mai asked excited.

"No! It was in my soul room! I slept all night!" Kaiba was absolutely mortified. Damn the Sorceress and her words and her ability to smell the Shadows. She probably smelled the way Kaiba's and Seth's Shadows were mingling much like she could after Yami and Yuugi had sex. "If you keep this up, I'm leaving."

"No, no," Mai said hurriedly. "It's alright. I'll stop. I'm sorry. I only meant to tease anyway."

Kaiba stepped back and glared at her when she reached out to him. "Don't touch me," he snarled. "That wasn't funny. How do I think I feel about the whole thing? I've never been interested in anyone except Kisara. I was ready to go through my entire life a virgin simply because I was never going to find someone who could measure up to Kisara and the Seht came along and now I..." He sighed. "You know what, now, I'm done."

He turned and walked away when Mai ran after him and caught his hand. "Wait! I'm sorry. I really am. I shouldn't have teased you that badly, especially not in front of someone else. I understand how these things work. You're not the only one who interacts with Yami and Yuugi,you know." She pulled the reluctant CEO into a hug. "I'm sorry. I won't do it again and I won't tell anyone else. I promise."

Kaiba suffered through the hug and while he was not ready to forgive Mai, he was willing to overlook it for now. "Why don't you and Oliver go burn off some of that frustration and I'll meet you three at Four Square."

"Four square?" Mokuba echoed, speaking up for the first time since the fiasco between his brother and Mai.

Mai released Kaiba and smiled down at the boy. "It's the froyo place Thea and I are dragging you to. Don't worry," she said with a wink. "You'll still have time to make it to your going away party."

"Party?" Oliver asked.

"Oh yes," Mai said.

"It's nothing," Kaiba said. "Just another dinner where people interested in my money try to rub shoulders with me."

Oliver laughed. "Sounds about right."

"You can come if you want," Kaiba offered. "I'm flying back to Japan right after that."

"Sure, I'll pop in and say hi," Oliver smiled.

"Bring Green Lantern if you can," Kaiba said as an afterthought. "There's something I need to tell him."

Oliver nodded. "I can do that. But first, you were going to show me a few things?"

Kaiba grinned and very deliberately yanked on Oliver's Shadows causing the vigilante to stagger. "Yes," he said. "Just a few basic things for you to work on so you're not entirely helpless when I leave. Feel free to continue practicing and try new things. Just be aware of when you reach your limit," he warned. "And if you've used more Shadow magic than usual, be prepared to feel tired and drained. A good rest should fix that."

"Let's move downstairs," Oliver said. "We'll have enough room to move."

Kaiba shook his head and took a seat in one of the white futuristically styled chairs on the dance floor and gestured to the one across from him. "I'm not going to teach you how to fight," he said. "You're already proficient in that. To imply I know better would be an insult. I'm just going to show you how to incorporate the Shadows into your fighting technique."

"Don't we need to fight for that?" Oliver asked taking the seat across from Kaiba and watching the other man closely.

Kaiba shook his head. "Not necessarily, no. You've felt me reaching out with my Shadows when I'm looking for someone." Oliver nodded. "Do that now. Go as far as you can but the moment you feel you should stop, and you'll know, stop. Don't reach any further. The more you practice, the further you'll be able to reach. Eventually, you'll find your natural limit, but until then just be patient." Oliver nodded and closed his eyes. "Keep your eyes open, kohai," Kaiba said. "You don't want to attract anyone's attention, so you?"

Nodding, Oliver opened his eyes and stared at the white plastic table between himself and Kaiba and reached. He felt Kaiba's horizon of power shining directly across from him, the colorful smoke that was Mai, and the steady rooted tree that was Mokuba. The two bodyguards were still murky but there. He slowly reached further feeling's Kaiba's Shadows follow him, keeping an eye on him. He stretched until he felt a twinge and stopped.

He could feel many murky presences moving through his Shadows, heedless of him. He could vaguely feel the brilliant flame and the depthless darkness that he had come to associate with the King and the Pharaoh just beyond his reach. He blinked and saw Kaiba watching him. He blinked again when he realized he could see Kaiba and feel his Shadows reaching still. They had retreated somewhat when he had begun to see with his eyes as well, but the fact he was anle to do both at the same time was good.

Kaiba nodded, pleased. "You seem to have mastered that. Keep working on it and soon you should be able to differentiate between non-Shadow users to help you track someone down." He leaned forward. "Now, I want you to put your consciousness into the Shadows. Don't worry, you won't get lost. I'll be following you and help you should you need it. But only if you need it. I want you to try it on your own."

Oliver nodded and focused on his Shadows. It took several minutes before he felt his mind detach itself from his body and float in the Shadows. He could feel Kaiba's Shadows hovering nearby waiting, just in case he need him. Oliver could still feel his physical body but he could also feel his Shadow body. The Shadows, both his and the city's, brushed him, caressing him softly like the feathers on his arrows.

Curious and wanting to push himself, Oliver forced his Shadow body to move. It felt like swimming through water only more streamlined and faster. He swam through walls and buildings, through people's shadows, and under cars. It was intriguing and he would have kept going had he not felt that familiar twinge again and Kaiba's Shadows tapping his. Reluctantly, Oliver pulled back, gasping when he felt his mind slot back into his physical body.

When he blinked back into reality, he was greeted by Kaiba's grin. "Very good. You're a fast learner. That's always nice." Kaiba leaned back comfortably. "I remember the arrow you fired at the Traitor when the Swords of Revealing Light were destroyed," he said calmly. "I may not have been in full possession of my faculties at the time, but I remember the Shadows lacing your arrow. Even though you missed, you hit a viable target." He tilted his head. "Keep doing that, lacing your Shadows with your arrows. They'll help guide them to the target of choice. Naturally, they won't change the arrow's trajectory entirely but they can influence it somewhat."

"Influence how?" Oliver asked intrigued.

Kaiba shrugged. "I'm not an archer but I'm familiar with firearms. It would be like using laser guided bullets. The Shadows would act as the lasers and help keep your arrow from missing the target of choice." They shrugged. "They can also be more deadly and increase or decrease damage. Shadows laced around explosives can either give more power to the bomb or act as a muffler much like a silencer. Or they can be used defensively. By encircling a bomb or a gun with Shadows, you can briefly minimize ghe damage of the resulting explosion."

"You mean like a force field?" Oliver asked.

"Yes, in a way." Kaiba glanced over his shoulder to see Mai hugging Mokuba before walking out to her motorcycle. He reached out and tugged her Shadows and received a gentle brush in return. He smiled and turned his eyes back to Oliver.

"Debris, heat, fire, and some shrapnel will still escape the Shadow casing of some bombs simply from the shear power of the explosion. You can't shield a volcanic explosion after all, there's simply too much power. It would kill even me. But I could help guide the explosion, focus it in a single direction instead of allowing it to be omnidirectional."

Oliver nodded thoughtfully before he was reminded of something. "You know, I've been wondering: how did you get out of the restraints we had you in on the Watchtower when we captured you?" Kaiba smirked and held his silence. Oliver sighed. "You're not going to tell me, are you?"

Kaiba shrugged. "I believe the phrase is, a magician never reveals his secrets."

Oliver laughed and shook his head. "I thought you weren't a magician."

"I thought you weren't a party throwing, womanizing, rich boy," Kaiba countered.

"I'm not," Oliver said firmly with a cheeky smile.

"Oh?" Kaiba asked. "Then what are you?"

"The vigilante of Starling City and a Shadow user," Oliver replied.

Kaiba smiled.