This one is a bit late, and I apologize for that. I also apologize because this chapter is a bit short for my tastes. But I do think that it fleshes out one of the more important relationships in this particular story.

More than likely, I will begin posting more than once a week pretty soon. I just need to get into the right groove. In the meantime, I hope that you will treat this story something like a weekly soap opera. Even if nothing really happens, I hope that it's entertaining enough that it doesn't really matter.

On that note, shall we begin?


"I'm hurt, Kaiba. You don't recognize me?"

A short eternity ago, when Seto had still bothered with the professional dueling circuit, he had faced this man in the arena. He had anticipated facing this man in the arena, of beating this man into the dirt of the arena.

Yugi Mutou remained the single man to have ever earned Seto Kaiba's respect as a gamer. He had known for some time that a transformation took place when Yugi stepped into a competition. His friends contended that it was magical; Seto had never had any reason to believe it wasn't purely psychological.

He knew about Yami. The "spirit" that took over Yugi's body.

This was not Yami, yet neither was it Yugi.

"If I did, I wouldn't have wasted time and breath on the question," Seto muttered. "Now, I will reiterate: who are you, what are you, and what do you want?"

The smirk on Yugi's face reminded Seto none too comfortably of himself. "If I thought you would believe me, I would have given you a straight answer the first time. I am seeking the answer to a particular question, and I hope to glean that answer from you."

"The typical course of action would be to ask the question."

"I am anything but typical," Yugi replied.

"I'm not sure if you've grown a spine or lost a brain," Seto said, "but either way, you're fast becoming irritating." Yugi grinned, chuckled a little. "If there is any inkling of a point to this social square-dance of yours, tell me. If not, I'm leaving."

Yugi's grin widened; he showed his teeth. "Just a few questions for you, then. It won't be but a minute. Are you aware of your brother's apparent…feud, shall we call it, with Miss Gardner?"

Seto scowled. "I am aware that he is less than impressed with her."

"Does this surprise you?"

"No."

"Do you feel that Mokuba is justified in the way he has been treating her?"

"No more than Gardner is justified in believing the tripe that got Mokuba upset in the first place. Understand, Mutou, that I don't have the time or the inclination to care about your cheerleader's feelings, about me or anything to do with me. If she has a problem with how my brother has been behaving, then tell her to come to me directly."

"You would listen to her then?"

"I would. I cannot guarantee that I would act on anything she told me, but I would listen. Her feelings do not interest me. Mokuba's conduct, on the other hand, does."

Yugi looked feverish, almost hungry, and Seto found himself oddly nervous under the scrutiny of those blood-colored eyes. His hand twitched spasmodically for the gun at his right hip. "What do you think about the youngling socializing with Tristan and Joseph?"

Joseph? Seto thought, filing the use of the blond's full name in the back of his mind for later consideration. He said, "Very little. They protect him, support him, entertain him. He provides the same to them, in whatever capacity he can."

"You…approve?"

"If I did not approve, then it would not happen."

"You believe that Mokuba is so loyal as to obey you without questioning you?"

"No, but I believe him to be respectful enough to obey me after questioning me."

"Hmmm…" Yugi rubbed his chin. He stayed that way for nearly thirty seconds before nodding suddenly, as if he'd just decided something. "Very well, then. Thank you, Kaiba. My curiosity is assuaged for the moment." He turned away, and lifted a hand in a species of wave as he began to walk. "A pleasure to see you again. It's been too long."

Seto watched his rival leave, wondering what the holy hell had just happened, and why he suddenly felt like he needed a shower.