Chapter Twenty-Four

Over the next few days, the mood at the Kaiba Manor hadn't really improved much. Seto was cold and Mokuba was hardly home, really taking off with his new leisure time after school. Yugi spent most of his mornings by himself in the conservancy.

The weather was holding out nicely for now. The eighteenth of October. Week twenty-one, almost week twenty-two. He was brooding how much longer he could expect to be able to carry his daughter. From his baby books, he knew anything earlier than thirty-seven weeks was considered preterm, something Kuribayashi was sure was going to happen. If he made it to week thirty-seven, that would be the end of January, beginning of February. The coldest and most hostile months of the year.

He'd be having his C-section here in this manor, but Kuribayashi wanted to then take his newborn daughter out into that cold and all the way to Domino Hospital.

The idea made him so anxious he felt nauseous.

But far worse, if he couldn't carry her that far, and he believed Kuribayashi's assessment was probably accurate, even if this was uncharted territory, what then? Taking his premature daughter away from him and out into the unknown?

He knew he wasn't supposed to fret about it, but it was impossible.

He decided to distract himself by getting back on looking for a tutor. The first few he'd tried were booked, but there had been another couple to try.

Back in the manor, Yugi went to the phone in the parlor and pulled out his little sheet of paper. This one was one of the most top rated tutor facilities in the prefecture, but Yugi had been unable to even get through to the answering service the last time he'd tried calling. He didn't have much hope.

But he was luckier this time. A polite, cool female voice answered and Yugi explained his reasoning for calling. He was placed on hold for a bit while the secretary searched records for an available tutor, then she came back with surprising news.

"But Mokuba Kaiba already has a tutor with this service. Sumi Matasuki should even be there now. Are you saying she hasn't arrived?"

"Oh. No, I'm not saying that. I didn't know Mokuba had already gotten a tutor, I was just helping out. Thank you, I'm sure she's already here."

"Please be sure to call back if that is not the case."

"I will, but hang on, they'll be in the dining room. One second and I can check-"

"Very well." She sounded a little impatient. No doubt she had other calls waiting.

Yugi got up and hurried into the dining room, hoping he was right that Mokuba would have had his school things in there rather than upstairs in his suite's sitting room.

He was right, and he heard a female voice coming from the dining hall. He peeked in and saw Mokuba sitting at the table beside a young woman with waist-length black hair. They were both facing away from him, but he could see Mokuba's textbooks stacked to the right of him.

"Yes, she's here. Thank you for your time."

"Thank you for using Konata Tutoring Service, have a good day." She clicked off as soon as the sentence was finished.

Yugi put his phone in his pocket and headed further into the dining room. The other two had realized he was there and turned around.

"Oh, good afternoon!" Sumi jumped to her feet and bowed to Yugi. "My name is Sumi Matasuki. I'm from the Konata Tutoring Service, here to assist Mokuba with his math and chemistry subjects."

She raised her head. Yugi saw she was stunningly beautiful. Her button-up top was being tested by an ample bosom and her skirt brushed the tops of long, curvy legs. Her eyes were large and doe-like, dark brown, behind large, wire-rimmed glasses, while her black hair was shining in the lights of the dining hall. She appeared to be a bit older than Yugi, maybe twenty-two.

"Good afternoon," Yugi said.

Mokuba was looking at Yugi with an expression mixed of defiance and guilt. Struggling to keep a straight face, Yugi looked back at Sumi.

"Um, would you like something to drink?"

"Oh, Mokuba has already ordered some, thank you! He's very sweet."

Mokuba's face flamed. Wondering exactly how much Mokuba was going to remember of his tutoring sessions, Yugi bowed back to Sumi and excused himself. Out in the hallway, he chuckled as he ascended the stairs.

Upstairs, he headed into one of the spare bedrooms. He'd reached Anna the previous day, telling her about being so easily out of breath and asking for advice on exercise. She'd cautioned him to limit himself and stay away from weights and contorting his body too much, suggesting he try some pregnancy aerobic videos. He'd reluctantly ordered a couple and had them hidden in here, at the bottom of a bookshelf behind a bunch of books that probably hadn't been read by anyone in years.

He locked the door, then opened the hinged doors on the entertainment center. About five of Kaiba Manor bedrooms were outfitted like mini hotel suites, including both Kaiba brothers' rooms, and the three guest rooms that spanned the hall between the two master suites at either end of the third floor. They even had tiny fridges.

Yugi popped in the DVD, then settled back on the foot of the bed and watched the intro. He fast forwarded as the host went on about the specialness of pregnancy and motherhood, until finally the exercises started. He followed them, feeling distinctly foolish as the only man of the group, even if they of course couldn't see him.

Though the only thing that mattered was his daughter's health.

Once the 45-minute video had ended, Yugi settled back down on the edge of the bed. He was once again out of breath and dizzy. He'd weighed himself that morning to see that he was now just a little shy of one hundred and six pounds. He'd gained three this last week since his last appointment with Kuribayashi and more than twelve since he'd gotten pregnant, almost on par with what the doctor had wanted. Not a significant weight gain, but being almost off his feet for three months was taking its toll.

Well, he'd just have to exercise more. Setting the DVD back in its hiding place, he headed downstairs to eat. It was Thursday, but Grandpa had told Yugi he'd man the Shop the whole day that day, as he had yesterday and probably would tomorrow. At seventy-six, he was defiant of his advancing age, and routinely refused to let Yugi handle a shift, despite the fact they'd worked out the split days the previous winter, when Grandpa had caught a very bad cold and scared the hell out of Yugi and his mother. He supposed if Grandpa kept it up, the two of them would have to gang up on him again and insist he keep to their agreement. He was not looking forward to that.

Down in the entrance hall, one of the maids was just taking delivery of a package from a courier. Curious, as Seto usually had mail directed through Kaiba Corp so his staff could sort it for him and get rid of anything he didn't care about.

"I can take that to Seto," Yugi offered as she turned after shutting the door, holding a package no larger than a cell phone.

"I'm already here," Seto said, striding down the stairs. He took the package from the maid, glanced at it, then stuffed it into his coat pocket without opening it. "Nothing important."

"I didn't know you were home."

"I was expecting this." He turned and headed toward the dining hall. "Come and have dinner."

Confused, Yugi followed him. He'd said he was expecting it, but it wasn't important. It must have been something involving his holograph projector, something that Yugi wouldn't have understood, so he hadn't bothered explaining.

Since Mokuba had taken off as soon as the tutoring session was over, it was just the two of them in the dining hall. Once served, Yugi ate in silence for a moment, then looked up.

"Mokuba got himself a tutor."

"Good. About time he took something seriously."

Yugi bit his tongue. He didn't want to start another fight. Seto had backed down some and that was a victory. But of course Mokuba's schoolwork was only one of the many topics left unfinished the previous week. So, tentatively, he broached the topic again.

"How do you want to tell him about the pregnancy?"

Seto's hand clenched on his spoon and he didn't raise his eyes from his evening newspaper. "I haven't decided. We have time, if you were right about when… it happened."

Of course he was right about when he'd gotten pregnant, there'd only been one magic statue. But then, Yugi couldn't really be upset with Seto wanting to put it off. He still hadn't told his mother and grandpa. Yugi set aside his soup bowl and served himself some unagi donburi.

Dinner passed in silence, and when it was over, Yugi headed upstairs and took a shower. The hot water felt good on his back and he stood under the spray for some time, trying to block everything out. Eventually, however, as they always did, his thoughts turned back to his pregnancy. Looking down at himself, he saw the firm distension of his abdomen. His belly did not appear as large as many of the pregnancy pictures, but he wasn't too concerned about that. He knew there was a variance and even then the Moto family tended to produce small people. He was one such example.

Once out of the shower, Yugi donned a robe and headed into the bedroom, scrubbing his hair.

Seto was sitting on the edge of the bed, holding a glass bottle in one hand and a pair of wineglasses in the other. Yugi stopped in the center of the room peering at him through the gap between the towel and his bangs. Seto smirked at him, looking amused.

"Well?" he asked.

Yugi slowly lowered the towel, watching him uncertainly. Seto looked so good, sitting there in a shaft of sunlight that pierced through the half-open curtains. He'd loosened his tie without taking it off, knowing it was a look Yugi loved.

"We haven't really been properly reacquainted," Seto said.

"Whose fault is that?"

The retort was out of Yugi's mouth before he even realized. Seto's faint smile disappeared and the silence was tense. Then Seto raised his arms slightly, still holding the bottle and glasses.

"Do you want to or not?"

Yugi had thought he'd had a handle on his hormones. But annoyance was lust in a heartbeat and he strode across the room, the towel falling unheeded to the carpet, and caught Seto's face between his hands, kissing him hungrily. Seto kissed him back, arms at his sides as his hands were still full, and there was something inexplicably hot about that. Yugi was getting hard with rapidity, and he tried to shove Seto back down onto the bed, frustrated when Seto resisted.

"Let me set this down," Seto mumbled with difficulty because Yugi was trying to keep their mouths sealed together.

"Why did you bring them in the first place?" Yugi responded, pawing at Seto's clothes.

Seto stood up, his sheer height forcing Yugi to let go. Seto looked amused again, turning to set the bottle and glasses on the dresser. He turned around and gasped, because Yugi was right there, going for his belt.

"Calm down," he said.

"Don't tell me to calm down," Yugi growled, getting the belt open and then cupping Seto between the legs, rubbing firmly as he tried futilely to undo the button to his slacks one-handed.

Seto grabbed both of his biceps in his hands, pushing his arms back at the same time he bent and kissed him. He walked Yugi backward to the bed, awkward as hell with their height difference, yet still strangely hot. Then again, Yugi was just finding everything erotic right then.

Seto sat down on the bed again, drawing Yugi into his lap, back to front. His arms came around Yugi, fingers tugging lightly at the sash. Yugi whined and ground back into him, trying to pluck the knot undone when Seto wouldn't let go of the ends of the sash.

"Eager, are we?" Seto asked in his ear.

"Seto, please, I'm not in the mood for teasing."

Yugi saw Seto frown out of the corner of his eye, but the brunette thankfully didn't say more. He deftly undid the tie, then reached up and drew the robe gently off Yugi's shoulders, fingertips barely brushing his skin and sending tingles all through him. Seto's lips landed on the crook of his neck, and Yugi moaned, tilting his head to the side and closing his eyes. The robe slid down his arms and he impatiently got out of the sleeves before trying to grab it and throw it to the floor, but he was still sitting on its hem. His movements upset Seto's kissing, bumping his nose against the ridge of his shoulder.

"Yugi," Seto said, annoyance evident.

Yugi stood up, grabbing the robe and flinging it across the room, then turning back to Seto.

"Damn it, Seto, I just want to fuck."

Seto's face twisted slightly in an expression of distaste. Yugi glared back, naked and horny and angry and ashamed of himself. He didn't usually cuss, and he knew he was being short-tempered and rude, but he'd already explained, and if Seto would just-

"Fine."

Seto stood up and started perfunctorily removing his clothing. Yugi swallowed and closed his eyes, scrubbing his hand over his mouth.

"I'm sorry."

Seto snorted and Yugi opened his eyes again, seeing him shirtless and scowling, pants undone and boxers peeking over the edge of his waistband. Yugi stepped into him and pressed a kiss to his sternum as he pushed his pants down. He ran his tongue around a nipple, starting to pull Seto towards the bed. The brunette tripped over the garments still around his ankles and crashed into Yugi, knocking him back into bed. He caught himself on his hands before he fell on him, Yugi hitting the mattress halfway up his back and almost falling right off. Seto growled down at Yugi as he pushed himself up so he was sitting on the edge of the bed properly, Seto's hands planted on either side of his hips.

"Yugi, you're acting very-"

"I know," Yugi said. "I can't help it. I'm sorry, okay?"

He kissed Seto again, running his tongue over his bottom lip, urging the ice to thaw. Seto relaxed, kissing back, the pressure of their joined mouths waxing and waning as he kicked his legs to get his pants and boxers fully off. Yugi giggled, biting gently at Seto's bottom lip, moving fluidly in sync with him as he crawled up onto the bed, Yugi scooting back with him. He raised his hands and scraped his nails gently down Seto's chest, before flattening his palms and dragging them up to his shoulders. His very broad shoulders. Yugi needed to get fucked immediately now.

Seto's little groan was very gratifying. He was still on his hands and knees, tongue doing head-spinning things to Yugi's.

"Mmm, Seto, missed you," Yugi mumbled between kisses.

Seto shifted to one arm, his fingers threading through Yugi's hair and gripping a handful. He broke the kiss, gently pulling Yugi's head back so he could bite at his throat. Yugi dug his fingers into the sheets, staring dazedly up at the pattern of fading sunlight dancing on the ceiling, filtered through the leaves of an elm outside the window.

Seto started a further path down, but as he kissed his chest, Yugi squirmed away and went for the nightstand. No protests this time, and when Yugi turned back with lube in hand, Seto took it from him and bent down, kissing the inside of his thigh as he popped the top. He hooked an arm under Yugi's knee and when he rose up onto his knees again, Yugi's leg was lifted on his shoulder. That was hot as hell, even if Yugi had to lay back because he currently wasn't as bendy as normal.

The fingers entering him were achingly familiar and had been sorely missed, and Yugi closed his eyes, kneading the sheets again, shivering in pleasure. He felt Seto's breath against his neck and groaned.

Seto's fingers withdrew and he shifted them around, laying back against the pillows against the headboard and drawing Yugi into his lap, again back to chest. Yugi thought it was so he didn't have to feel the changes to his body, and he bit back the instant hurt feelings. It was okay. It was still weird for Seto, weird for them both.

But that was better, that was good, Seto sliding deep inside, hands on his hips. Yugi arched back against Seto's warm chest, moaning, pressing his face into Seto's neck. He nibbled and started working his hips, grinding on Seto and feeling the shallow slide sing all the way up his spine.

"Yugi," Seto sighed, and buried his face in Yugi's hair. His hips started to rock in counterpoint.

"Yes…" Yugi hissed. "Finally."

He got his balance more under him and started riding Seto, relishing every stroke. The mere feel of Seto's familiar hands, almost able to span his waistline under normal circumstances, made him feel secure and home for what felt like the first time in months. Yugi gripped the back of Seto's neck with one hand, used the other to run over his own chest.

Seto's face remained buried in his hair, his breath stirring through the strands, hips jerking up to meet Yugi as best as he could. He felt so big inside, so big all around him, solid and strong and Yugi had missed him so much. He needed him.

Yugi reached down and took himself in hand, beginning to stroke. It had been weeks, and he'd been so frustrated, and fast was all they were going to get. He groaned out Seto's name, working himself towards the end, breath panting in the spacious bedroom that was his and Seto's most private domain.

The orgasm was not long in coming and it burned deliciously through Yugi's nerves, tearing a cry from his throat. He spilled over himself, shuddering in Seto's arms, all the aggravation pouring out with it, leaving Yugi feeling satisfied and happy.

He heard Seto growl against his ear, felt his hips surging against him. One of Seto's hands came up and cupped his chin, turning his face into Seto's fierce kiss. An answering shudder ran up Seto's spine and Yugi felt his release.

They relaxed, Yugi carefully getting off of Seto's lap and settling in the sheets beside him. He felt great, despite the returning heartburn, and marveled at how just a little return to normalcy could make the previous weeks feel like just a bad dream.

Yugi's gaze drifted across the mussed sheets, and he could feel the sweat and come drying on his skin. He'd need another shower.

To his horror, the thought brought tears to his eyes. He'd just gotten clean, and it wasn't a big deal, and yet it was. He hastily wiped at his eyes, but Seto saw.

"Yugi, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," Yugi said. "I'm fine. It's just these…these stupid hormones. It's ridiculous! And yet I can't stop."

Yugi climbed out of bed, wiping his eyes as more tears ran down his cheeks. He gave a frustrated whine and started for the bathroom. He'd felt so good just a moment ago! Sniffing, he wiped his nose.

"It's not you, Seto, it's not. I just need to-"

"Yugi, you're bleeding!"

Yugi looked at his hand, saw the streak of red. He reached up and touched his nose and then drew his fingers back. The tips were red. As Seto lurched out of bed, Yugi tilted his head back, cupping his hand under his chin.

"It's just a nosebleed," Yugi said as Seto hurried over to him. "It's okay. The baby books said they're normal."

Seto's expression was unreadable. His hands were gentle on Yugi's shoulders as he guided him around and to the bathroom. Yugi grabbed a handful of tissues and jammed them under his nose, bending forward over the sink. Seto hovered over him, watching intently.

"I'm fine," Yugi said again. He checked the tissues, pressed a clean section under his nose. "Don't worry, Seto."

Seto said nothing, but he didn't move from his side. Yugi wanted to cry again, and internally cursed the whole situation. He wanted it to be over and done with.

The nosebleed dried up. Yugi tossed the tissues into the wastebasket and turned for the shower. Seto joined him wordlessly, and as the hot water began to cascade down again, Seto pulled Yugi to him and kissed him.

"I love you, Yugi." Seto's voice was tinged with desperation, and Yugi remembered that until just recently Seto had thought he was gravely sick.

"I'm here."

tbc...