Coalescence

22) Talking to Yourself

Summary: Ryou Bakura has a conversation or two; Seto Kaiba has a surprise visitor before school starts


Ryou Bakura was enjoying an... interesting... conversation with his other self as he walked to school in the morning. "Interesting" was the only appropriate word for it, although someone else might have said "disturbing". Since his darker half's interfering delay tactics endangered Yugi Mutou's life in the incident with Bandit Keith and the warehouse fire, Ryou had managed to come to an understanding with the former tomb robber. Blackmail had its advantages.

/So, do you think Otogi-kun is gay?/ Ryou asked his other self casually. By mutual consent, between the two of them he was "Ryou" while the dark side went by "Bakura".

//Why are you asking me?// Bakura snarled, unhappy at being dragged into another of his hikari's morning chat fests. //Why do I even talk to you?//

/Because you like me and since I stood up to you - twice now, is it? - you realize I'm not a pushover./

//That's *your* opinion!//

/And you like what we do together in your soul room,/ Ryou reminded him with an internal smirk.

//Oh, THAT.// Bakura had been shocked to find that his wimpy, fluffy little partner was not only gayer than blades, but was amazingly adept in pleasuring. Apparently it was true; you always have to watch out for the quiet ones. //Heh, yeah, I like that...// He made a lascivious noise, then added, //Otogi? You have to ask?//

Ryou laughed. Yes, things had gone much easier between them once Ryou had found that Bakura had as much a weakness for sexual favors as he did pretty gold Millennium Items. /I think he fell a little bit for Yugi-kun after getting beat at his own game,/ he chuckled.

//Oh, that one... yeah, the little twerp is as bent as we are, my luscious one...// Bakura sent his hikari an image from his fertile imagination that involved Yugi Mutou and a lot of ropes. //Heh...//

/Bakura, really!/ Ryou retorted. /You wouldn't./

//I would if you let me... or, change that, maybe I just WOULD!//

"Oh, that would be a pretty sight..." Ryou murmured aloud, grinning to himself.

A short distance away, Anzu had spotted her classmate and decided she would accompany him inside. But before she could call out his name, she noted that he seemed to be... preoccupied... "Um, Bakura-kun?"

"Ohayo, Anzu-chan," Ryou replied sweetly.

Anzu peered at the white-haired boy curiously. "Excuse me, Bakura-kun, but were you just... talking to yourself?"

"Actually, yes," Ryou replied cheerfully, falling into step beside her.

"Um, don't they say that people whok tok to themselves are crazy?" Anzu asked, bewildered. [What the hell is HE so darn happy about?]

"I suppose so," Ryou responded, waving a hand to dismiss her words. "But maybe I am crazy. Then it'd be all right, wouldn't it?"

"Heyyyyyy, Bakura-kun," Honda abruptly breathed in his ear, an arm in a chokehold around his neck. "Whassup?"

//Tell him to get his hands off my property NOW!// snarled the tomb robber.

"Honda-kun!" Anzu yelled, for Ryou couldn't speak. "Really, can't you just say hello?"

"Eh, didn't mean anything there, little buddy," Honda said as he released Ryou, pounding him a couple times on the back until he coughed. "Ohayo!"

//I don't like them touching you...//

/Get over it, Bakura,/ Ryou silently told his possessive dark half, suppressing an internal chuckle. /You mean you don't like the *straight* ones touching me.../

//.....//

Still coughing, Ryou managed to speak. "Ohayo, Honda-kun. Anzu just discovered that I'm crazy, that's what's up."

"Ne?" Honda made a noise of bewilderment. "What's he talking about?"

"He talks to himself," Anzu explained with a sigh.

"And that makes you crazy?"

"Indeed," Ryou replied with a smirk that was very much not like him, but very much like a certain spirit within his Millennium Ring. In actuality, he was just teasing them, and had no intention of revealing his other self's presence. Not to these. Yugi was another matter. He knew Bakura was itching to pick at him some more, and there was still the little matter of the bit of magical "something" Bakura had done with a piece of the Puzzle which he wouldn't tell Ryou about.

"Whatever," Honda sighed, giving up. Generally the group lithe the white-haired boy, but understood well that Ryou Bakura was... odd. Left of odd, in fact. But then Yugi was in their group, so...

"Oi, minna!" Jounouchi suddenly screamed, leaping into their midst.

"Ohayo," Anzu and Honda intoned, used to the blond's antics.

"Ohayo, Jounouchi-kun," Ryou greeted him sweetly.

"Ne?" Jounouchi peered at him intently. "What the hell are you so happy about?"

"Oh, nothing, except that it's been established that I'm crazy."

"Oh, okay, if that's all it is," Jounouchi muttered, already turning his attention to the others. "So, where's Yugi?"

"Haven't seim,"im," Anzu replied.

"Did you call him last night?" Honda wanted to know.

Jounouchi puffed out his chest. "Mission accomplished! I not only talked to Yugi, but I got to talk to Yami, too!"

Anzu, Honda, Ryou, and a just-arrived Otogi all said together, "Yami?"

//See how he twirls his hair on his finger?// Bakura commented as Ryou glanced toward the boy with the ponytail. //Gay...//

/Of course, silly,/ Ryou replied, turning his attention back to the group.

Bakura wasn't letting him just yet. //Did he say 'Yami'?//

/Shhh, listen!/

"Yep, Yugi let me talk to his better half," Jounouchi snickered, then got a little more serious. "You know, though I know Yugi told me he talks to him, I was really having trouble wrapping my head around the fact that there's this whole other person whose mind is inside Yugi's."

"You've battled him," Anzu reminded him dryly.

"I know, I know, but that's when I thought it was Yugi!"

"He's taller and older looking and his voice is different... and you didn't notice?"

Jounouchi shrugged. "Eh, I'm a guy, so shoot me! I don'tarouaround lookin' at other guys, you know!"

"*I* noticed," Ryou murmured, holding in a smirk.

Otogi glanced over at him, widening his eyes, but the others ignored the comment.

"Okay," Anzu went on, "so we were a little preoccupied... some of us more than others. Whatever. So tell us more!"

"Well, Yami says he doesn't have any memories of his past. I guess he's been like living in that Puzzle of Yugi's for... eh, must have been a few thousand years. He's like from ancient Egypt or something."

"Whoa, that's awesome," Honda commented. "And he comes out to help Yugi duel, eh?"

"Yeah, guess so." Jounouchi made a face. "I really didn't find out much more, 'cause we got talking about Kaiba. It seems like Yami and Kaiba have actually gotten to be good friends or something. Can you believe that? After their last battle, you'd think they'd be total enemies."

"It was a bad situation," Anzu murmured thoughtfully. "Remember, Kaiba was desperate because of his little brother. Sure, it was terrible for him to put Yugi through that, but his little brother comes first in his life. I think that's kinda sweet."

Jounouchi and Honda rolled eyes at each other. Girls. Honda put in, "Yeah, Anzu, but remember that Kaiba was really horrible to Yugi's grandpa and he put Jounouchi through hell, too. The guy's a bastard, that's all there is to it."

Jounouchi scratched his head. "Yeah, well... this Yami guy seems to think Kaiba's changed... and so does Yugi. They want us to give him a chance." He shrugged. "Yami said I should talk to Kaiba. I dunno..."

"It couldn't hurt," Ryou commented softly. "Do you trust this Yami-san?"

The blond looked down at the shorter boy as if seeing him for the first time. "Bakura, you weren't on the receiving end of all that nonsense..."

Ryou straightened. "You forgave Otogi-kun."

"Yeah," Anzu jumped in, "you're that kinda gJounJounouchi! Big heart and all. Maybe Kaiba-kun *has* changed."

Otogi glanced over again at the white-haired boy, who caught the look and winked at him. Immediately Otogi looked away, blushing.

//This looks promising.//

/Who knows?/

"Yeah, well I think I gotta steel myself for it," Jounouchi was saying, rubbing at his chin thoughtfully. "I swear, though, if he says anything, ANYTHING about dogs..."

"Well, do it when Yugi's there," Anzu offered. "I'm sure he won't be a pill to you in front of him, not when he's trying to be his friend or something."

"There's a thought," Honda murmured.

"I guess I do trust Yami," Jounouchi sighed. "Yeah..."


Upstairs in the school building, Yugi stood outside his classroom door, trying to calm down. [I know he's in there,] he worried, thinking about all that had transpired the evening before. [I was practically in his LAP last night! Oh, this is so weird...]

//Aibou...//

/Yeah?/

//Why don't I go in there? Don't worry, I won't do anything embarrassing.//

Yugi took a deep breath. /I know you won't. Um, okay. Sorry, I'll get better, I promise. It's just a little soon./

//I understand.//

Yugi effected the transformation after making sure no one was in the hallway. /I'm retreating now,/ he told Yami.

//You don't have to...//

In his soul room, Yugi just smiled.

Taking a deep breath, Yami walked into the classroom.

Hearing the unmistakable boot tread, Seto froze. [Yugi's here...] Click. Click. The sound came closer.

Just as Seto began to turn his head toward the sound, fingers suddenly filtered into the back of his hair. As he started, a huskily breathed "Seto" greeted him before his mouth was covered with lips that were immediately familiar. [Yami!] The voice was unmistakable. Abruptly Seto shoved his desk out of the way with one hand, and then pulled the other's body across his lap, deepening the kiss.

When they paused for breath, Seto looked into his lover's violet eyes, his heart pounding. "Yami, what are you doing here? I assume Yugi's not..."

Yami, his heart beating fast as well, grinned at him. "No, he's not. And he was being shy about facing you, so I decided to greet you this morning instead." He glanced toward the doorway. "Someone could come..."

"It's early still," Seto murmured, his arms still firmly holding his lover in place. "That was a very nice greeting," he added, still breathing a little hard.

"As was the response," Yami replied, stroking his lover's cheek. "I would love to do more, but..."

"No buts," Seto muttered, taking his mouth again, though this time, the kiss was lighter, more tender and much less needy. After last night's phone conversation, Seto had relieved himself of his own ache, then made the decision after some soul-seang tng to rein in his desires for now, at least until after Yugi had made his decision about the proposed Bond of the Gods ritual. He'd made up his mind about that, too. He wanted them to go through with it... accepting that Yugi would be in his life from now on. And he knew Yami felt the same. The decision was up to Yugi.

Yami felt like melting into a puddle when his mouth was released again. "That was very nice... mmmm. Seto, I want an afternoon with you some day soon in which we just make out the whole time, just kissing like this. I can't get enough of it."

Seto bowed headhead briefly, remembering his decision. [Yami wants me just as badly as I want him. But Yugi's involved...] "Yami-chan," he murmured, kissing his boyfriend's cheek tenderly. "You know my heart and my desires. And I think you know I'm accepting of this new bond that you want to achieve with Yugi. I accept the consequences..."

"Seto," Yami breathed in wonder, his heart aching.

"But Yugi hasn't decided. He has to be ready to accept me, too, and we know he's not there yet. Until then... I think we need to calm things down between us. Just for now... at least until he decides." [This is harder to say than I thought,] Seto mused to himself, feeling a sense of dread within him. [I don't want to have to do this, but...]

Yami stared at him for a long moment, then, bowing his head as well, got up off Seto's lap. It was clear, too, that his lover released him oneluceluctantly. Straightening, the former Pharoah met his eyes again, resolve and love burning in his eyes. "You're right," he murmured. "Of course, you're right." He glanced away then, and Seto could see the barest shimmer of wetness in the corner of his eyes. "We don't need to be going this fast. There's time."

Before Seto could respond to that, the Puzzle began to glow abruptly. Then it was Yugi standing there, blinking in bewilderment.

"Ohayo, Yugi," Seto said quietly, purposely not looking at his classmate so the other could get his bearings. He pulled his desk back into position and adjusted his own chair.

Yugi put a finger to his eye, and wondered when it came away wet. Glancing at Seto, he wondered if they'd had an argument. "Seto-kun," he replied softly, "Ohayo. Is everything all right?"

"Of course, Yugi," Seto replied, glancing over with a little smile. "Thanks for letting me see Yami for a couple minutes. That was a nice surprise this morning."

Yugi blushed, then chuckled. "I bet it was." He glanced away, though was still smiling. "Sorry I just didn't come in and say hello. I guess I was embarrassed because of... last night."

"No need," Seto murmured. [The less said about this, the better.] "Oh, I just remembered." He bent down to retrieve an envelope from his briefcase, then handed the packet to Yugi. "My lawyers dropped this off before I left for school this morning. It's the papers I had drawn up. Take all the time you need looking them over, and I'll be glad to answer any questions."

"Oh, the papers about the project," Yugi murmured, taking the envelope. "You know, Seto-kun, maybe this isn't such a good..."

"I'd like to hire you as a research associate," Seto interrupted quietly, sitting back. "Permanently, if possible. Of course your work would be only as much as you can handle. I know that school and helping your grandfather come first. Maybe you can just fit in, say, Saturday mornings? Just a suggestion." When Yugi didn't speak for a moment, Seto added, "Would you like me to go over the papers with you at lunch today? Any of your friends are of course welcome to sit in."

Yugi couldn't help but think that this was all just because of Seto's relationship to Yami. [Isn't it? Isn't he just trying to be nice to me because he loves my darker half?] But he already knew that was a lie; Seto Kaiba had every reason to value Yugi for his experience as a duelist. Then, again... [It was Yami doing that dueling...]

//Aibou!// came his other's voice sharply. //You know that isn't true. We dueled together. Your skills are amply impressive enough to apply to such a venture as this project. I believe he genuinely welcomes your involvement with his virtual reality game.//

/You really think so?/

//I most certainly do. Seto Kaiba isn't a man who would buy someone's cooperation or friendship like this. At least not now.//

Seto blinked, then realized Yugi must be talking with Yami internally. [Yami will ease his worries, I hope,] he thought, waiting patiently.

/I suppose you're right. He is pretty nice to me now./

He felt a wave of surprise from Yami. //Aibou, you still harbor doubts about him?//

/Um.../

"Maybe some other day," Seto murmured in a low voice before picking up the business magazine he'd been reading and turning his attention back to it.

Yugi jerked to attention. "I'll look this over when I get a chance and let you know," he said rather quickly. "Thanks, Seto-kun."

Seto inclined his head politely but didn't look his way.

/He doesn't like me.../

//He's trying to let you save face,// came the gentle response.

Just then a crowd of students burst into the room, all chattering, and Yugi, his face burning, turned hastily to his seat. A moment later his friends also came in, Jounouchi as usual the loudest.

What his best friend did next, shocked the hell out of the diminutive teenager. "Saaa, Kaiba," Jounouchi called out, sliding down the aisle to the taller boy's desk, then actually sitting on the edge. "Wanna hang with us at lunch today?" He rubbed at his mop of hair, grinning widely. "Heh, doesn't hurt to ask, does it?" he announced to no one in particular.

"That's fine," Seto murmured with a small smile. Within, he twitched to see the ebullient Katsuya Jounouchi sitting on HIS desk, but he controlled it.

"Eh, just tryin' to be friends, uh... whassat? Was that a YES?"

"Yes," Seto replied, still looking at his magazine.

"K...Kaiba-kun," Yugi breathed, staring in surprise.

Seto glanced up and gave Yugi a little wink when Jounouchi was making more commotion, distracting most of the others from him.

Not all. [There it is again,] Anzu thought, intrigued. [Okay, next time I ask, I'm getting ANSWERS!]

//Did I see what it looks like I saw?// Bakura asked his other, not knowing whether to be irritated or delighted because something interesting was actually going on.

Ryou gaped at Kaiba for a moment, then grinned. /Well, except that Yugi's blushing, I think Kaiba-kun is just jerking everyone's chain. Business must be slow these days.../