Beauty

First Things First: Thanks as always for the reviews…I hope you all enjoyed the double chapter update. I know it was a lot of reading…but hopefully it was worth it. So Bakura, Yami, and Yugi… show of hands…who thought Bakura was gonna end up sleeping with Yami. To be honest, Yami needed to get laid bad…and so did Bakura. Yugi being there was inconsequential…not that I think Bakura would have cheated on Yugi with Yami…but you get my point. The surprises keep coming…I’m not done yet…Haha…enjoy my lovelies.


Disclaimer: I don’t own nothing

Song notes: Euphoria (Firefly) Delirium feat. Jacqi Hunt, Without U by Usher, This is Me by Dream, Outrageous by Britney Spears, and I’m Dreaming by Ashley Jade.

Chapter 26: Confessions


And I can't stop thinkin' about
About the way my life would be
No I can't stop thinkin' about
How could your love be leavin' me
And I can't get you outta my mind
God knows how hard I tried
And if you walk right out my life
God knows I'd surely die
And I can't stop doin' without
Without the rhythm of my heart
No I can't stop doin' without
For I would surely fall apart
And I can't get you outta my mind
Cause I know I can't deny it
And I would die if you decide
You won't see me again

If I never feel you in my arms again
If I never feel your tender kiss again
If I never hear I love you now and then
Will I never make love to you once again
Please understand if love ends
Then I promise you, I promise you
That, that I shall never breathe again
Breathe again
Breathe again
That I shall never breathe again
Breathe again

~Breathe Again
Toni Braxton




“You must be the love em and leave em type, huh?” Joey spun around, there, standing in front of him, was the brunet. Joey nearly went into cardiac arrest. His voice was just as delicious as his skin tone and sharp masculine features. “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Malik turn that color before. I think it was practically mauve.”

He’s using the word “mauve”, he’s gotta be gay.

Looking up at the brunet with big expression-filled eyes, Joey commented, “Some guys just don’t take no for an answer, I guess.”

“Yeah, I’m one of those guys.” Joey smiled. Standing so close to this dreamboat was overwhelming him. “You must get it all the time though.”

“Huh?”

“Guys shamelessly hitting on you,” the hottie answered.

“Oh. Well, to be honest, I’m so oblivious when it comes to that sort of stuff. I never notice.”

“Well, in that case, let me tell you that I’m hitting on you.” Joey smiled again, at the other’s smile. He’s just too hot. “I actually had this pick-up line I wanted to use on you…” Joey’s smile grew. “But I don’t think it worked.” Joey thought about that for a moment, a confused look on his face. But then he started laughing.

“Sorry about the delayed reaction, I’m a little slow,” Joey thought, still smiling.

“No apologies, that was pretty bad…”

Joey laughed, “Yeah, it was.”

“You weren’t supposed to agree with me.” Joey laughed again. “There a car I could walk you to or something? I’m obviously striking out here.”

“I’d let you walk me to my car, but it’s in the shop. I’m car-less for the next two days.”

“Bicycle, maybe?”

Joey smirked. “No, I’m officially a pedestrian. I just planned on walking home.”

“Out here, that’s not safe. Any kind of person could come along and jump you from be.”
.”

“Well, yeah, but I mean, for all I know, you could be trying to walk me to my car so you could jump me.”

“I havstristrict rule,” the brunet smiled, “I only jump cute guys in bed.” Joey blushed, but smiled sheepishly.

“You could wind up being another Malik,” Joey pointed out.

“Not possible. My name’s not Malik, it’s Tristan.” Joey just couldn’t keep from smiling.

“I’m Joey.”

“I know.”

Joey peered at himself in the mirror. His eyes couldn’t have been puffier if he had tried. Yami had used up all their cucumbers on his own eyes before he moved into the hotel, so there was nothing Joey could do. He sighed and slammed the medicine cabinet shut and trudged back towards his bedroom.

The phone ringing derailed him.

The blond sighed as he walked into the kitchen and checked the caller ID. Yami. Tristan had called frantically Monday. He had called frantically Tuesday. He hadn’t called today, Wednesday, he had to be tired of being hung up on.

“Hello, Yami.”

“Hi, Joey, is Yugi there?”

“He’s not home from work yet. I’ll let him know you called though.”

“Thanks, Joey. Bye.”

“Bye.” Joey sighed and hung up the phone. He needed ice cream. Ice cream with hot fudge, and chocolate sprinkles. And a banana. A big, thick banana. Tristan had a big thick banana. Didn’t he. What the hell was he thinking about?

“What is it you want, Tristan? Guys like you don’t go for guys like me.”

“I resent being told who it is I do and don’t go for. Especially since you won’t give me a chance to get to know you.”

“Get to know me?”

“Come out with me tomorrow night.” Joey’s heart jumped.

“Tristan…”

“I won’t settle for anything less than a “hells yes”.” Joey smiled. “There we go, there’s that smile that’s been playing itself over and over again in my mind.” Joey felt himself grow warm. “This is probably going to kill the mood here, but after Tuesday night, I just couldn’t stop thinking about you. I had my cell phone in my hand, hoping you’d call me for a good hour.”

“Really?”

Tristan smiled. “Yes, really.” Joey smiled again. “I know almost nothing about you, yet I find myself infatuated.” Tristan leaned in, and finished the rest of his thought in Joey’s ear, whispering it in smooth breaths. “I’m terrified of this…but I can’t walk away.”

“I just…I’m so afraid.”

“Your last relationship ended horrifically, r?” J?” Joey nodded. “But despite all that, you took a chance and went for it anyway.” Joey nodded again. “After you take away all the bad stuff, at some point taking that leap of faith was worth it.”

“I don’t know.”

“Well, think of it as fate, then Joey. Maybe you had to meet him because he was essential to you meeting me.” Joey smirked. “Okay, that sounded really cocky, but you get the point. Fate will only take you so far, you have to do some of the work.”

“You believe that, Tristan?”

“I’ve always lived my life with one philosophy. You can’t measure life by the number of breaths you take, you have to measure it by the number of moments that take your breath away.”

And then Tristan took Joey’s breath away as he leaned in and kissed him.

How many moments since he had met Tristan had his breath been taken away. Too many to ever be able to count. And now, without him, he couldn’t breath, but for a different reason. Joey sunk his head into his hands and sighed. He hated feeling so helpless, he hated letting another person get him this upset. He hadn’t wanted to fall in love again. He hadn’t wanted to go through this again.

Whoever said it was better to have loved then lost than to have never loved at all was an asshole.

“No future boyfriend of mine is going to get away with not dancing.” Joey blushed. “Come here, I’ll show you.” Joey felt himself being yanked into the middle of the floor.

“Tristan, I can’t…please… I’m horrible.”

“Doubt that.” Tristan released his hold on the other and held his hands out. “Come on, Joey. Dancing is just like sex. Once you get into a rhythm it’s all instinct.”

“Who said anything about me being good at sex?” Joey teased walking over to Tristan.

“A cute little thing like you can’t be bad at sex, Joey. It goes against every law of nature I’ve ever known.” Joey blushed as Tristan brushed up against himet’set’s just see how good you are at having sex, hum, Joey?” Tristan whispered.

Tristan’s hands went to Joey’s hips.

Tristan established a rhythm. His hands guiding Joey’s movements. Joey felt himself grow warm… “So sexy, Joey…you have no idea what you look like dancing…” Tristan’s right hand slid up Joey’s abdomen, up his chest, to his cheek. “You’re so beautiful, Baby…”

Joey decided he deserved the ice cream and poured chocolate syrup into the ice cream container and grabbed a large mixing spoon. He sat on the counter and began shoveling ice cream into his mouth frantically. He was going to be just like Yami soon, an oversexed diva who complained he was turning into a little porker.

He wouldn’t be beautiful anymore. He wouldn’t be the beauty Tristan had told him he was.

“I made it when I first woke up. I’m not much of an artist.” Joey looked at the picture and back up. His eyes were now huge. It was a drawing of Joey sleeping made from a black colored pencil. It was a remare lie likeness, Joey’s hair all over the pillow, a content look on his face as he slumbered in Tristan’s bed. On the bottom Tristan had scribbled the word “Beauty” and signed his name.

“I…I didn’t even know you could draw…Tristan…”

“Well, it’s a rough sketch… I got used to sketching you from art class. You were the perfect subject, you didn’t even flinch as you slept. I guess I wore you out.” Joey was at a loss for words. “Baby, I know things are going fast, but I can’t help myself when I’m around you. Joey, you’re an incredible person, and it just amazes me that the outside is just as beautiful as the inside.” Joey looked up again.

Oh gods, Tristan…I love you.

“Joey?”

“No one’s ever…no one’s ever done something like this for me before. Thank you.”

“I like the way I feel around you, Joey. I hope you don’t have any regrets about last night…”

“Tristan…” Tristan leaned in and kissed him. Joey’s hands immediately wrapped around his neck. “No regrets…none…I have no regrets…” Joey returned the kiss full force.

Joey put down the spoon, he was trembling too hard now. A new set of tears falling from his eyes. Why did he have to be so perfect…why did he have to b won wonderful? Was it a bad sign that Tristan had stopped calling? Did that mean it was really over now?

How was he supposed to get over something so wonderful?

Joey hadn’t known what to do about the twin pictures sitting on his nightstand. One was the picture Tristan had drawn of him and the other was the picture of them at Yami’s birthday party Yugi had taken, the one Tristan had given Joey when they went away for a weekend together.


“Open it.”

“Tristan, I can’t take gifts from you, I can’t…”

“Open it, it’s not returnable, because it’s personalized.” Joey frowned. Why did Tristan sound so much like Duke just then? At least it wasn’t a ring box. What in the world had Tristan gotten him?

Tristan watched as Joey lifted the top of the box off and looked at the picture frame. It was blue, the top had cursive writing in gold that was centered: Life’s not measured by the number of breaths you take. Underneath that, a second line stated: Life’s measured by the number of moments that take your breath away. On the bottom of the frame was another line in the same gold cursive writing with Joey. And underneath that, there was a second line: Taking my breath away since 9/5/04

The picture inside the frame was of Tristan and Joey, Joey was looking off to the right, slightly, and he was grinning, the brunet was behind him, his res resting on the blond’s shoulder, he was obviously kissing Joey’s neck, and he was looking at the camera with a mysterious glint in his eyes.

“Where did this picture come from?”

“Bakura. He was kind enough to email me the pictures from Yami’s birthday party. Remember when Yugi got mad he saw us dancing, and told Bakura to take a picture? I did some Photoshop editing and you can’t even tell we’re dancing. I know you were probably concerned that all the pictures you ever see are of me and my motorcycle, but she’s just one of my babies.”

“What about this date?”

“That’s the first time I saw you, in art class. I thought you were the cutest thing I’d ever seen. I didn’t even know what to say to you, so all I could do was smile. Then Malik came up to you so I left. It wasn’t until the following Tuesday that I got the courage to approach you. But my love at first sight happened on that Thursday, the 5th of September. One month ago tomorrow. Which is why I wanted to give this to you then, but you had to be upset tonight.” Joey blushed and looked up at Tristan.

“You remembered the date of the first day we saw each other?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Joey’s heart stopped. He had to be having a stroke. “I want to be your boyfriend, Baby. I want you to teach me what it means to be in love.”

“Tristan?”

“I want to make you happy, I want to see you smile. I want to be with you. I want you to be with me.”

“I don’t… Tristan…I don’t know what to say…”

“Say yes, Baby.” Joey nodded, afraid his words would get lost in his throat. “I love you.” Joey smiled.

“I love you too.” Tristan leaned over and kissed Joey, Joey immediately opening his mouth to Tristan. Tristan was kissing him again for the first time. Tristan gently leaned forward, Joey was soon on his back on the rug, not breaking the contact. Tristan’s hand ran up Joey’s shirt again and Joey moaned into Tristan’s mouth.

“Babe?” Joey looked up from his ice cream, he had let a spoonful land on the counter and make a mess. “Joey, are you alright?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Joey asked, rubbing his eyes with a sleeve. “I’m fine, Yug.”

“Sure as hell don’t look fine. How long have you been crying?” Joey shrugged. “Since you got home I bet.” Joey shook his head no. “Did he call you?”

“No,” Joey looked away, more tears stinging his eyes.

“Call him, Joey. This has gone on long enough.”

“No. He lied to me.”

“You can’t still be upset that he was the one that fucked Duke, Joey. Duke was a scumball. He lied to you both.”

“That’s not why I’m upset. He lied when he didn’t tell me about it for a month. He made himself sick over it. He had me going out of my head with worry when he threw up blood in our bathroom.”

“He was so upset because he thought you wouldn’t take it well, and you proved him right, Joey.”

“I would have taken it better if he had told me up front. Not spent a month denying it, forcing himself into my pants, and refusing to tell me what was really going on with him. And yes, I can be mad at him about fucking Duke. Tristan fucking Duke just proves what kind of man he is. We both know that even if Duke had of told him about my existence he still would have screwed him.”

“So in other words you’re done with Tristan, and the relationship is over?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Well, Joey…what is it you want from him? He can’t take it back.”

“You’rkingking me out to be the bad guy. He’s the one who messed up.”

“And he’s paying for it.” Yugi rubbed Joey’s thigh. “Don’t think for one second he’s not hurting. Bakura has been camped out at the condo trying to comfort Tristan since Sunday night.” Joey sighed. “He didn’t do it to be malicious. He never meant to make you cry, Babe.”

Joey looked at Yugi through tear-blurred eyes. “He might not have meant to. But he did.” Joey stood up. “I’m going to take a shower.” Yugi watched his best friend leave the kitchen and sighed.

His heart went out to Joey and Tristan.

But the truth of the matter was he had his own problems to deal with. Namely having a real discussion with the other two people he had had that threesome with Saturday night.


-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-



“Coming…one second.” The thing with not liking to wear clothing was the obvious problem of being half dressed whenever there was a knock on the door. “I’ll be right there!” The rapping on the door didn’t cease as Yami threw on a bathrobe over his cotton cut off shorts. He thought he’d at least get a chance to moisturize first. Yami hadn’t thought room service would get up to his suite with his very specific order quite so quick.

And he was right.

“Seto. What are you doing here?”

“Do I need a reason to see you, Love?” Seto asked with a smile. Yami gave Seto a look. He was still in work clothes, he even had on a tie. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

“I thought we agreed you weren’t going to come over here unannounced anymore, Seto,” Yami began, moving so that the CEO could come into his large hotel room. “What are you doing here, and don’t say you were in the neighborhood. Kaiba Corp is on the other side of town.”

“Like I said, do I need a reason to see you?”

“Yes. You do. And a formal invitation. I don’t like the idea of you just showing up here. What did I tell you about that?”

“I didn’t let myself in, Sweetheart,” Seto pointed out, slipping off his shoes. Yami narrowed his eyes. “I wanted to see you. I missed you.”

“That is no reason for you to pop by like this. It’s rude. I could have been naked or something.” Yami sat on the couch and crossed his legs, then crossed his arms over his chest. “Why didn’t you call first?”

“Because I wanted to see you.”

“What kind of answer is that, Seto Kaiba?” Yami asked, getting annoyed.

“It’s the truth. That’s what kind of answer it is.”

“We’re talking in circles here. I don’t want you deciding on a whim that you need to stop by and see me. Call me first.”

“If I called you first, you’d probably give me some excuse why I couldn’t. Seeing you is like pulling teeth.”

“Well it’s hard for me, Seto. It’s not everyday I leave my fiancé to move into a hotel because he can’t keep his dick out of other people’s assholes.”

“Sweetheart…I’m sorry…”

“Get out. I don’t want to see you today. I’ve had a long, horrible day. Your presence would only exasperate it.”

“Please, Yami..” Seto sat next to Yami on the couch. “I brought something for you. It just came today.”

“What did I just say, Seto?” Yami asked, huffing.

“Look, Honey. It’s February’s edition of Rave magazine. Look how gorgeous you look.” Yami gave Seto a glare before taking the magazine from Seto’s hands. On the front cover were the two of them at their New Year’s Eve Pre-Engagement Party. “You’re perfect, Sweetheart, the camera loves you.”

“It is a good picture,” Yami conceded. “Of course I wasn’t a fat little cow then.”

“You’re not a cow now, Love. I promise.”

“We look quite fetching don’t we, Seto,” Yami thought, softening. Seto nodded. “Brown is so your color. Look how it brings out your eyes.”

“You are the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever seen,” Seto added, leaning closer. Yami turned and looked at him. “Can I have a kiss, Love?”

“A little one,” Yami answered.

“Tease.” Yami smiled and closed his eyes as Seto pressed his warm lips against his. The kiss was anything but little and Yami melted into Seto, dropping the magazine on the table and wrapping his arms around Seto’s neck. When the kiss broke Seto smiled before remarking, “How could anyone not fall desperately in love with you?”

“Seto, we need to talk.” Yami moved away a little.

“I know what you’re going to say, you don’t want me to get the wrong idea.” Seto stood up. “I’ll fix us a couple of drinks then you can remind me why it is you love and hate me at the same time.”

“You say that like it’s some joke,” Yami said, narrowing his eyes.

“No. I don’t mean it that way.” Seto pulled out two wine glasses from the cabinet. “I was only pointing out that since we first separated neither of us have said anything new. It’s been the same back and forth conversation for a month.”

“I wasn’t going to talk about us getting back together. It was about something else,” Yami began.

“Well, what is it?” Seto asked, glancing at him.

“I don’t know how you’re going to take it, maybe you should be sitting down.”

“Is it that serious, Sweetheart? Are you dying or something?” Yami made a face. “Really Yami, I love you to death, but your over the top theatrics get antiquated. I mean really, it gets to be tiring after a while.”

“And just what is that supposed to mean? You think I’m some melodramatic drama queen, don’t you?”

“Honey…please…”

“This is why I hate you, Seto,” Yami said, pouting.

“You are perfect, Sweetie.” Seto walked over to Yami and handed him a glass. “But yes, you do have a way of being bitchy. To be quite honest, you’re very bitchy when you want to be.”

“You’re an asshole, get out.” Yami took a large sip of the alcohol and sputtered. “And you’re trying to intoxicate me too. It’s probably laced with rat poison. Isn’t it?”

“Yes, Honey. Enough to kill you five times over.”

“Why the hell did you make this so damn strong…why not just give me the vodka bottle.”

“I like getting you tipsy…I was hoping you’d get drunk enough that we could fuck before I left.”

“Get the hell out, Seto.” Yami stood up. “You arrogant jerk.”

“Oh sit down, Honey. I was only teasing you.” Yami made a face. “This is what I’m talking about. Come on, Sweetie, calm down.”

“I’m going to have security remove you from my sight.” Yami headed over to the phone when there was a knock on the door.

“Expecting someone, Sweetheart?”

“Oh, room service is here.” Seto got up and answered the door. He took the tray of food and gave the servant a generous tip before he closed and locked the door. “Bring it into the bedroom, Seto.”

“I thought you were calling security.”

“I will, if you don’t get out of my room after you bring it to the bedroom.” Seto smiled as he followed Yami into the bedroom. Yami removed his robe and Seto took it from him and went to hang it up. Then he came back to where Yami was making himself comfortable on his bed and sat down next to his outstretched bed.

“Let’s see, what do we have here.” Seto lifted the tray cover and smiled. “It looks like a pot luck dinner.”

“I wasn’t sure what I wanted so I ordered a bunch of things,” Yami explained. Seto picked up a cherry be ste stem and Yami opened his mouth. When Yami was done he stuck out his tongue and Seto took the pit and set it back on the tray.

“Any wonder why I’m so utterly infatuated with you?” Seto asked. Yami smiled. “Can I have another kiss?”

“A little one.” Seto smiled and joined their lips together for a fiery kiss. “Sometimes I do hate you, Seto,” Yami began, as they pulled away. “But right now…right now I love you.”


-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-


“I think you’ve had enough.” Tristan shook his head no. “Don’t you have work tomorrow?”

“Work?” Tristan asked with a bitter laugh. “Work? Do you know what 90 percent of that job is, Bakura? Do you know?”

“No, I don’t,” the white haired bouncer answered, “But I’m sure you’re about to tell me.”

“I go to Kaiba’s fucking office and give him advice about that slut estranged fiancé of his. That’s what I do. That’s my job. How the fuck am I supposed to give advice to him about his marital discord when I just pushed the best thing that ever happened to me out of my life. It’s a fucking joke. I’m a walking contradiction, Bakura. That’s what I am.”

“I don’t know about a contradiction. I can attest to you being inebriated.”

“I am a contradiction. I can spend hours giving you and Yugi and Kaiba and every other poor slob in fucking Domino advice and I fuck up my relationship. What the fuck is wrong with me?”

“You’re drunk for starters. Put the cognac down.” Tristan gave Bakura a look and held the half empty bottle to his chest. “I’m not sitting with you while you puke your guts out in the porcelain throne again tonight. Frankly I’m tired of watching you vomit. Between the blood and nearly throwing up on me at the karaoke bar, I’m done with it.”

“I need this, Bakura…you don’t understand.”

“You’re escaping instead of coping, that’s what I understand. For crap’s sakes, Tristan. Sulking and wallowing aren’t going to bring Joey back, are they? Suck it up, your self-deprivation kick is getting old.”

“I miss him so much, Bakura…” Tristan blubbered. “Make him come back to me.”

“Give me that bottle, and stop it.” Tristan shook his head no. He looked like a d. d. “Tristan.” Another firm head shake. “Fine, fuck this, I’m out of here.”

“No…no…don’t…” Tristan dropped the bottle on the table, Bakura barely catching it before it’s contents spilled out onto the glass. “Don’t leave, please…if you go…I’ll be alone.”

Bakura took the bottle and put it away while Tristan sunk onto his couch. “Did you call him?”

“No. I don’t want to be hung up on anymore.”

“You have to talk to him, Tristan. No offence, but I don’t want to be here night after night with you. Go see him.”

“He wouldn’t see me.” Tristan looked at Bakura. “I’m not drunk enough…it still hurts. Give me the bottle back.”

“Absolutely not.” Tristan gave Bakura another look, seemed to be thinking for a minute. “What are you scheming?”

“Remember that time you guys were trashed? I was the sober one driving and you were all fucked up?”

“Of course I remember that, Tristan, it was a couple of days ago.”

“Joey looked pretty hot kissing Yugi… they’ve probably developed mono by now… but I enjoyed it. Yami too. You should have kissed Yami…sometimes I think he’s developed a thing for you, Bakura.” Bakura narrowed his eyes.

“What makes you say something like that?”

“Alcohol?” Bakura studied Tristan but said nothing. “Fuck, I’m wasted. Want to kiss me now, Bakura?”

“I’ll pass.”

“Suit yourself.” Tristian gave him a sideways glance before putting his head in his hands. “I don’t feel right. Bakura, I don’t…”

“Come on, let’s get you up to bed then.” Bakura helped the brunet stand up and they headed upstairs.

“Would you stay with me tonight?” Tristan asked slumping on his bed once reaching his bedroom. “I…I don’t want to be alone, tonight.”

“Will you be putting out?”

“No.”

“Then what’s in it for me?” Tristan made a face. “Alright, stop pouting, I’ll stay. Come on, I’ll help you get undressed.” Once both men were dressed in comfortable boxer shorts they slipped into bed.

“Why have you been so nice to me, Bakura, I don’t understand,” Tristan inquired.

“What are friends for?”

“We’re friends, Bakura?” Tristan asked, looking at him critically. “I’ve never been good when it came to friends. All the guys I was friends with in high school abandoned me. And in college I fucked all my friends.”

“Well, I’m gay too, number one. And number two, since there’s no chance of either of us screwing at any point there’s no way you can mess this up.”

“Sometimes, sometimes I wonder if maybe I was always meant to be alone. Everything that was ever good in my life I ruined. Friendships, relationships. I sabotage my happiness.”

“Joey and you will make up, Tristan. You just have to give it some time.”

“I wish I could be more like you, Bakura. You’re fearless when it comes to love. Never afraid of being hurt. Quick to protect yourself in matters of the heart. You look at love with cynic’s eyes. You can be down right cold when you have to be.”

Bakura looked at Tristan and shook his head no. “I’m not this way by choice, you know.”

“Don’t tell me you’ve been jaded by love too.”

“We all have our sob stories to tell, Tristan.”

“Was it that bad.” Bakura met Tristan’s eyes. “It must have been. It must have been god awful.”

“He was my first love.”

“I’m beginning to understand now. He stole your heart, and never gave it back, right?”

“Something like that.”

“And because of him, you’re the way you are now.”

“Essentially.”

“He dumped you, huh?”

“He died.”

Tristan sat up and gave Bakura a hard glare. “He what? He…he died? While you were still dating?” Bakura only nodded. “Oh gods, Bakura. How…how did he…”

“Got himself killed by a drunk driver. Five years ago this May 22nd.”

“And you remember the date.”

“Of course I do. May 22nd is my birthday, Tristan.”

“Bakura…” Bakura’s look said it all. “You guys didn’t let too many people know about your relationship, did you?”

“His father was some big shot in our local government, having a gay son wasn’t helping his political career any. It was easier for the family if I didn’t go to the funeral. That way their dirty little secret could be dead and buried with him.” Tristan shuddered. Bakura wasn’t giving him a name, but unlike Joey calling Duke “the Fool” this was far more serious.

“Bakura, I never would have imagined.”

“You mean to tell me you didn’t find it a bit strange that everyone else had their sorted past and my back-story was squeaky clean.”

“I mean, I figured Ryou was the extent of it.”

“Ryou,” Bakura said with a snort. “Ryou never meant that much to me.”

“Not like he did.” Bakura didn’t answer. He didn’t have to, once again his expression said everything for him. “I get the impression you haven’t talked about this.”

“Can’t say it’s ever come up.”

“But you’re telling me.”

Bakura’s look hardened, and for a moment Tristan wondered if the bouncer was going to go off on him or something. He was surprised when Bakura took his hand in his. “Don’t question whether or not we’re friends, okay?”

“Bakura…”

“Call Joey. And if he keeps hanging up then go the apartment. He might slam the door in your face ten times before he sees you. So be it. Just talk to him.”

“I…” Bakura arched his eyebrow. “Bakura...”

“Just don’t get mushy on me, alright. I hate mushy.”

“You big lug.” Tristan wrapped his arms around him and pulled him in for a hearty hug. “Thank you.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“I mean it, thank you. Thank you for being a friend.”

“Alright, let go. We keep hugging, someone might get the wrong idea here.”

“Hey, I’m trying to say thanks, and you’re trampling all over my feelings. I’m all vulnerable right now.”

“Fine. We’re friends, alright. No matter what happens between you and Joey. Or me and Babyface. Now let go.”

Tristan pulled away. “Bastard.”

“I said no mush.”

“I thought we were having a moment here.”

Bakura rolled his eyes. “You want a moment, here, I’ll give you a moment.” With that, Bakura leaned over and gave Tristan a big sloppy kiss. Tristan pulled away disgusted.

“What the fuck, Bakura. Now I have your germs.”

“You were flirting with me.”

“The hell I was.” Tristan wiped his mouth with his arm. “I thought this was a platonic friendship.”

“Then stop throwing yourself at me.”

“You’re a fucker, you know that,” Tristan asked with a grin. “I know this is going to be devastating to hear, but I won’t fuck you.”

“I’ll try to pick up the pieces of my heart and go on.” Tristan punched him in the arm. Bakura punched him back and rolled over. “Go to sleep. I warned you about the mush. Yugi might get away with it, but that’s only because he’s cuter than you.”

“Oh blow it out your ass.” Tristan adjusted himself on his pillow. “Night.”

“Night.”

“Hey, wait a second. What did you mean when you said you and Yugi. Nothing happened between you guys, did it?”

“Why would something have happened?”

“This is the fourth night in a rou’veu’ve been over here. We might be friends, but I’d think you’d want to see Yugi at least once.”

“He’s comforting Blondie.”

“What happened, Bakura?” Bakura rolled over onto his back.

“Remember how you said you thought it would be hot if Yami and I kissed?” Tristan narrowed his eyes.


-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Joey was towel drying his hair as he stepped out of the shower. “Hey, Yug. Yami called again. It’s the third time today. Why aren’t you calling him back.”

“I’m busy, Babe. That’s all.”

“What happened to wanting to be friends with Yami again? To liking being close again.”

“I’m just busy, that’s all.” Yugi flopped on the couch. How could he talk to Yami? Not after what had happened. He couldn’t. He wasn’t even sure he could talk to Bakura. This was quite the situation he was in. “Babe, can I sleep with you tonight.”

“I’d like that a lot, Yug.” Joey sat next to him on the couch. “It’s been a rough day, huh?”

“Rough week. And we still have three days left.” Joey nodded. “What are you going to do about Tristan?”

“I don’t know.”

“I know Grandpa is a scatterbrain most of the time, but ever so often he has a moment of clarity, maybe you could ask him for advice.”

“Maybe I could.”

“I wanted to ask him for advice too, but I didn’t know how without embarrassing myself.”

“You need his advice too?”

“Yeah.” Yugi gave Joey a look. “It’s about Bakura.”

“What did he do this time.”

“Yami.” Joey made a face. “The two of us slept with Yami on your birthday.” Joey frowned. “We were pretty trashed.”

“I don’t…you guys had a three-way with Yami?” Yugi nodded.

“It was an ambush, one minute Bakura and Yami were arguing, the next Yami was going down on him.”

“Well, in Bakura’s defense, Yami has a way of making it very difficult to resist his charm. He really is very good at the game of seduction.”

“Bakura’s gone three months without sex.”

“That has a lot to do with it.” Joey signed and looked away. “You think you’re immune to his teasing and the next thing you know…”

“It’s not like you’re speaking from personal experience, right, Joey?” Joey gave Yugi a look. “Right, Joey? Joey?”

“Yami and I swore we’d never say anything to you.”

“YOU SLEPT WITH HIM?”

“No. I just got close.”

Yugi narrowed his eyes. “How close is close?”

“I a c a condom on.”

“I can’t believe this…when the hell was this?”

“Back before you and Yami started dating. I was over his parent’s house, you were with your grandfather some place and dad had been drinking the whole day, so he let me crash there and…one thing led to another. It was a long time ago.”

“Why did the two of you keep this from me?”

“It was a mistake. We both agreed it was better to forget it ever happened. We didn’t see how we could tell you about it without hurting you.”

“Were you drunk?”

“I wish I could say thas tas the reason. The truth is, Yami’s always been very fuckable.”

“So you would have taken his virginity, is that what you’re saying.”

Joey took a deep breath. “Yes.” Yugi looked at Joey for a while but said nothing. “It was a stupid mistake. A momentary lapse in judgment, but we didn’t. I swear.”

“Yami’s always been a slut. I’m just surprised you were a part of it.”

“We were both to blame. It was a stupid mistake. It was like three years ago.”

“I can’t believe you kept it a secret all this time.”

“I’m sure there are things you’ve done that you’ve kept from me.”

“No, Joey,” Yugi answered angrily. “There isn’t anything I’ve kept from you. There wasn’t a moment I was three seconds from fucking Mako.”

“I am sorry.”

“I don’t understand why you wouldn’t tell me about this.”

“Yugi, please. I’m sorry about that. I didn’t sleep with him because of you, Yug. I loved you too much. Both of us did. We were both horny, that’s the extent of it. I never had any feelings for him. Come on, Yug, you were the first guy I ever really loved.”

“Why should I be surprised, Yami’s always been this way. When it comes to sex Yami forgets himself.”

“Please don’t be upset, Yug. Please.”

“It’s fine. I’m fine. Shocked, but fine.”

“Are you sure?” Joey and Yugi met eyes. Yugi nodded.

“What about the other night between you, Bakura, and him?”

“Bakura and Yami got what they wanted. We’re all happy.”

“Yugi..”

“I can’t give Bakura what he needs anymore. I’m not fulfilling my duties as his boyfriend. He was happy with Yami. Yami was happy with him.”

“Have you spoken to either of them?”

“No. Bakura tried to ask me if he should before it happened, and I picked up where Yami left off, sucking him off. I didn’t want to deny him. Yami can give him what I can’t.”

“Yami can’t love him like you do. I’m sure he’s just as confused and torn up about it as you are, Yug.”

“I owed him that, Joey. Especially since I can’t sleep with him anymore.”

“You don’t know that. You just have to give it some time.”

“With Yami on Saturday night, if Yami had wanted to take me I could have let him. It’s Bakura. I’ve tried to act like it wasn’t. Bakura and I talked about it over the weekend. I had tried to pretend it wasn’t him. But it is.”

“It’s psychological, there’s no difference between Bakura and Yami.”

“I can’t be intimate with Bakura, Joey. The only way it’s going to happen is if Bakura forces me.”

“He’d never do that.”

“I know.”

“Yug, you just have to have faith.”

“I can’t. Why don’t you understand that? I’m not upset that Bakura slept with Yami. I’m not upset that Yami seduced him. I can’t be with him anymore. What kills me is that I wish I could. I want to be Yami. I want to be the way I was before Malik hurt me. And I know I never will.”

“Yugi.” Joey looked as his best friend rubbed a few stray tears away with his sleeve. “It’s alright.”

“It’s anything but alright, Joey. I can still feel him inside of me, do you have any clue what that’s like, feeling Malik sliding around inside of me like my body was created for his pleasure? I’m not strong, I’m not doing fine. I still feel like I’m dying inside. I don’t say it because I don’t want to hurt you guys, but the cold reality is, I’m never going to be okay again.”

“Never say never, Yug. I know it feels hopeless, but look how far you’ve gotten. Every day you’re stronger. This situation with Bakura, won’t go away unless you talk to the both of them. Yami doesn’t know what happened to you, I’m sure if he realized you and Bakura hadn’t slept together since the rape he wouldn’t have let things get so out of control. And Bakura was three sheets to the wind that night. His judgment was impaired. He was hitting on Tristan for crap’s sakes. I’m not saying what happened was right, but you have to look at it in its context.”

“I know,” Yugi said softly.

“Do you think Yami would have tried something with Bakura if you weren’t right there?”

“No. Well, I don’t know about Yami. I know he’s been flirting with Bakura.”

“He’s been flirting with everyone. He’s a tease. That’s what he does. Do you think Bakura would have cheated on you with him?”

“I don’t think so. I…he didn’t fight Yami…he just let it happen.”

“You said yourself you gave him your consent.”

“I know, I just thought he’d say no. I…I felt guilty that I couldn’t please him anymore that’s why I didn’t object to it happening.”

“That’s not your fault. You shouldn’t feel guilty because you can’t have sex with him right now. People rely too much on sex in relationships anyway.”

“Easy for you to say.”

“I mean it.”

“Part of me thinks if I went away with Yami next weekend, be the the threesome happened, I would have slept with him.”

“You would have cheated on Bakura with Yami?”

“I might of.”

“What do you mean you might of? Yugi, you really need to get this straightened out. This thing between the three of you is only going to become toxic unless you talk to the both of them. Bakura loves you, Yami hurt you. I couldn’t imagine you sleeping with Yami.”

“Joey…I don’t think you understand.”

“You’re right, I don’t.”

“It’t bet because it’s Yami.”

“Then what is it then.”

“Malik was the last person I slept with. The thought makes my skin crawl. As long as that’s the case I feel like he still has a hold over me.”

“But you can’t sleep with Bakura.”

“No.”

“Well, sleeping with Yami instead is ridiculous. Really, Yugi, I can appreciate how you’re feeling, I can imagine the thought that Malik was the last person you were intimate with is disturbing to you. But Yami? What are you crazy? You’d risk ruining your relationship with Bakura to revisit a situation that drove you to suicide? The thought is absurd.”

“I know that.” At that Yugi burst out into tears. “I don’t want to feel like this anymore….I don’t want to hurt anymore…”

“Yug.” Joey gathered Yugi up in his arms so Yugi was sitting in his lap, sobbing in his chest. “Shhh..it’s okay. It’s alright.” Yugi didn’t respond. “I know you’re conflicted right now. But sleeping with Yami isgoingoing to solve the problem. It’s just going to cause more problems. And Yami’s got his own situation to deal with right now.”

“Please, Joey…please…make it stop…”

“Yug, you know if there was anything I could do I’d do it for you. You’re my heart.”

“You’re only saying that.”

“I’m not only saying that. You’re the most important person in my life, Yug. You always will be. Seeing you this upset is tearing me up inside.”

“You can’t help me.”

“If I can, I will.”

“I wouldn’t ask you to. I wouldn’t ask you to do that for me.” Joey swallowed. Is he going to ask me…gods is he going to ask me? “I’m just being selfish.”

“You’re hurting, Yug.”

“I’m a fucking mess.”

“You have every right to be emotional. You’ve been through so much.”
“Y
“You’ll always love me, won’t you, Joey? You promise?”

“Cross my heart, hope to die. I promise.”

“If I asked you…you wouldn’t hate me…you wouldn’t hate me for asking you?” Joey held Yugi tighter. “Would you hate me?”

“I will never hate you, no matter what. I swear.”

“I want you and Tristan to get back together, I do…I just…I can’t with Bakura…and…”

“And you want me to take you.” Yugi sniffled.

“It’s alright if you say no, Joey. I understand.”

Joey swallowed. What in the hell was he supposed to say? “Yugi, you have to understand, that even if I did take you, you still have Bakura to deal with. He’s very muc lov love with you, and doing this with me would definitely hurt him.”

“No more than being unable to sleep with him now is hurting him. No more than him sleeping with Yami hurt me.”

“I’m not saying no, Yugi…”

“But you can’t say yes.”

“Malik hurt you in the beginning of November. It’s only the very end of January. Give it six months, if you still feel like you do now…” Joey swallowed. “I’ll make love to you.”

“What about Tristan?”

“I’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. I don’t know if I’ll still be with Tristan three months from now.”

“You’d really do this for me, Joey?” Yugi asked, his big saucer eyes shinning at the blond.

“Yes.”

“I love you so much, Babe.” Yugi pulled Joey close to him and held him tight. “This means a lot to me.”

“I know.” Joey rubbed Yugi’s back and held him. He couldn’t think about wha had had just promised Yugi. He couldn’t think about how complicated he had just made all of their lives.


-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

“Two all right for Friday, Love,” Seto asked, feeding Yami some more of the munchies on the tray.

“Yes, it’s fine.” Yami thought for a minute. “I’m sorry…you must hate me by now.”

“Why in heaven would I hate you?” Seto rolled his eyes.

“I’m always such a bitch to you. One minute I’m being sweet the next I’m chewing your head off. How do you put up with me?”

“I love you. Nothing on this Earth is going to change how I feel about you.” Yami’s eyes dropped. “Honestly, Yami…you being a little bitch is part of your charm. This sounds bad, but I like when you flip out on me…at least that means you care enough to say how you feel. I’ll be heartbroken when your anger turns to indifference.”

“I see.” Yami sighed. This was going to be quite hard indeed. How was he going to tell Seto what had happened between him, Yugi, and Bakura on Friday?

“You must get sexier every time I see you, Honey.” Seto smiled as he rubbed his hands against Yami’s arm.

“Oh my god, Seto…”

“What?”

“I forgot to put on my moisturizer.” Seto smiled. “But it only works really well when I’m wet, Seto.” Seto stood up.

“Give me a few minutes.” Yami watched Seto head into the bathroom.


“How much longer did you think I’d pretend you weren’t fucking around on me? Bad enough you’ve been with every gym bunny in town, half your assistants, every Tom, Dick, and Harry you came across, but now you’ve taken to fucking my friends as well? Was it just Joey or did you sleep with Yugi too?”

Yami watched as Seto’s eyes darkened and he squished the washcloth in a deathly grip with his right hand. “The answer to your question is yes, Seto. Yes, Joey told me. Yes, I know about the others. I’ve known since it started. I kept ignoring it, kept pretending I didn’t hear the snickers and the gossip and all the rest of it. I kept thinking my love for you would be enough. That my undying commitment to you would change you. But no, I wasn’t enough for you. I wasn’t good enough for you…”

“Baby…it’s not you…it was never you…”

“Don’t give me your apologizes, don’t fucking patronize me.”

“I am sorry, Yami…”

“Did you think I didn’t know? That I wouldn’t find out? Or were you just too arrogant to give a shit?” Seto’s eyes dropped. “You son of a bitch. Why would you do this to me…why wasn’t I enough for you. Fuck, Seto…I would have died for you. You were supposed to be my happily ever after. Why wasn’t my love enough?”


“Here, Sweetheart.” Seto smiled as he produced a wet sponge and Yami’s bottle of expensive lotion. “See, we’ll just wet your skin and then put it on. Problem solved.” Yami swallowed. “Aren’t you glad your estranged boyfriend is a genius?”

“Seto…we really need to talk.”

“Alright, talk.” Seto removed Yami’s fluffy white bathrobe from his shoulders and began wetting his golden colored skin. “What’s on your mind?”

“I just…Seto…I I’v I’ve been very back and forth with you, and you don’t deserve that treatment. But I…I’m very confused. I don’t think we should be seeing quite so much of each other.”

“We’ve been making a lot of progress, Sweetheart.”

“To what end. If it were up to you I’d take you back with open arms and pretend you didn’t hurt me. I have to look at this logically. What sane person would forgive your transgressions, Seto?”

“You’re caught in an in between…that’s understandable. I only want to make you happy. If you don’t want me to come see you as much i won’t. Okay?” Seto squeezed a liberal amount of the moisturizer into his hands and began working it into his skin.

“I still fear I’ve given you the wrong idea about us.”

“We’ve had this conversation. You’ve told me many times not to hold my breath. What you don’t seem to appreciate is, I’d risk my heart to be next to you, Yami. And no warnings you give me are going to stop me from trying to spend as much time with you as I possibly can.”

Yami took a deep breath.

“Put the bottle down, Seto. And put the tray on the end table.”

“What?”

“Please, just do it, Seto.” Seto gave Yami a look before he did as Yami asked. Ysat sat against the headboard and looked into Seto’s eyes. “I need to tell you something.”

“So tell me.”

“I have this feeling you won’t take this news very well. That’s part of the reason I was so upset to find you at the door a while ago.”

“Whatever it is, Yami…just tell me.”

“Friday night I slept with another man.” Yami had gone over every scenario of how he had thought Seto might act. He was surprised when Seto didn’t act. At all. He sat in front of Yami’s out stretched legs and stared at his estranged lover, unmoving, unflinching, unblinking. “Seto?” Seto didn’t move a single muscle, but Yami could see the blue of Seto’s eyes grow dark. “Seto…say something. You’re scaring me. Say something.”

Seto finally blinked once and then spoke in a low menacing voice: “Who was it?”

“It doesn’t matter who it was, Seto. It happened. I’m telling you so we don’t have any secrets from each other.”

“Who was it?” Seto repeated his voice a bit louder and twice as threatening. Seto looked ready to growl.

“It doesn’t…”

“Who. Was. It.”

“Seto…I said it doesn’t…”

“WHO THE FUCK WAS IT!” Seto’s hand came up, and before Yami saw it Seto slammed it on the headboard next to his head with enough force to slam the wood into the wall with a resounding crack.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing! Stop it. You’re acting like a nut job, Seto!” Yami spat, though his voice betrayed him. He had definitely never seen Seto anywhere near this infuriated before and it frightened him to no end.

“Tell me who it was, Yami,” Seto demanded, his voice low again, even more dangerous sounding then when he raised his voice.

“Why so you can murder him in cold blood, Seto? Why the hell does it matter?”

“Why did you say anything at all? Is this some kind of revenge, Yami?”

“I told you why I told you. You fucking asshole, don’t start with me. You fucked five other men.”

“You enjoy yourself? Did you like the feel of someone else sliding up inside of you, Yami? Did you moan and tell him what a big, thick cock he had?”

“Fuck you, Seto! Fuck you! Get the fuck out!”

“I asked you a question, Yami…it’s rude of you not to answer it.”

“You hypocritical bastard…I fucking hate you…I’m not going to tell you again to get the fuck out of here right now. Or I’ll call the cops on you,” Yami screamed. He curled his legs up and held them in defense.

“Tell me who it was.”

“Get out!”

“You goddamn cock teasing slut…”

“GO TO FUCKING HELL!” Yami slapped Seto as hard as he could across the face. “You goddamned bastard! I’d rather be his slut than your husband. I wish you were dead you disgusting worthless piece of shit.”

“You going tofuckfuck him again?”

“I’m going to go fuck four more guys so we’ll be even, Seto. And I’m going to love every moment of it. Gods, Seto, you should have seen it. He fucked me so hard…I was raw….and I was so tight too…”

“You fucking slut…”

“Yeah…I’ll be a little slut…Seto. I’ll whore all around town…would you like that? Huh? You think you’re the only person who can get pleasure from someone else. You think you’re the only dick out there I want to take a ride on?”

Seto moved closer, his face directly in Yami’s line of site. He put his hands on either side of Yami’s head and pressed them into the headboard.

“Who’s paying for you to stay here, Yami? Hum? Who brought you all the clothes on your back? You want to play games…what if I sent you back to your parents. You want that?”

“You going to throw me out of here, Seto?” Yami smirked. “You think I can’t find another rich bastard to live with? You think I’d have any problem finding somewhere else to live? You want your shit back…take it. But don’t make threats, Seto…don’t make threats you have no intention of keeping, you fucking punk.”

“You think I’m joking?”

“I think I could fuck half of Japan and you’d sit there and take it like a bitch, that’s what I think. Your biggest flaw, Seto…is that you’re so damn in love with me. You were foolish to get that attached. But it’s your move, Fucker…what are you going to do huh? I’ll bring men here and fuck them in your own fucking hotel…”

“The fuck you will…”

“You gonna stop me? Hmm? I don’t think so.”

“You have no idea who you’re messing with, Yami.” At that Yami burst out in a fit of dark laughter.

“Do you honestly think I’ll take you back in the end, Seto? Do you think we’ll have a happily ever after, you and I? Poor deluded Seto.or, or, foolish Seto.” Yami continued to laugh cruelly as he sat in Seto’s lap. “It hurts, doesn’t it? Doesn’t it, Seto. You never thought your personal slut would find someone else to fucid yid you? That hurt feeling you feel right now, that feeling…multiply that by five and you can begin to know how I feel you jack ass.”

Seto said nothing, looking into Yami’s eyes. “If I had it to do all over again, Seto…I would. And maybe you’re right. Maybe I told you to be cruel.”

“You’re enjoying yourself, I wouldn’t be surprised if you got hard tormenting me.”

“Mmmm…maybe I should get hard, Seto…just like my nipples.” Yami smiled as he leaned over and sucked on the brunet’s earlobe. “Would you enjoy that?”

“Is this how it’s going to be between us now. You’re going to try to find ways to hurt me?”

“You still think this is about you, Seto. This is about me. This was never about you. I fucked him because I wanted some dick, it was as simple as that. Hurting you was an after thought. Not that I didn’t enjoy the look on your face.” Yami kissed Seto quickly on the lips. “So what happens now, Seto? Are you going to kick me out, leave me stranded in the cold?”

“I should.”

“But you won’t.” Yami gave Seto a teasing kiss on the neck. “Such a punk, Seto.”

“Get off my lap.”

“I thought we were going to make me hard, Seto.” Seto narrowed his eyes as Yami laughed again. He grabbed Yami’s wrists and forced him off. Then he swiftly pinned Yami’s arms above his head and straddled him. Yami made a face and struggled. “Let me go, you asshole.”

“You won’t be fucking anyone else, not as long as we’re separated, do you understand me.”

“I’ll fuck whoever I like.”

“The hell you will.” Seto leaned over. “I’ll over look this one transgression, but if anything like this happens again…”

“Don’t threaten me, Seto. Release me.” Yami had stopped struggling at this point. He looked in Seto’s eyes. “What are you going to do to me, Seto? Rape me?”

“You can’t rape the willing.”

“Touché.” Yami gave him a soft kiss on the lips. Seto didn’t release Yami’s wrists as he returned the kiss full force. Finally Seto let Yami’s wrists go as Yami wrapped his hands around Seto’s neck. “Would you really throw me out on my ass, Seto,” Yami asked softly, as the kiss broke.

“Never, Honey. I’m sorry…I should not have said those things to you. You’re not a slut. I was blinded by rage. Forgive me, please.”

“I don’t know why I should.”

“The thought of losing you is more than I can bare.” Seto pressed his head against Yami’s chest. “Please, sweetheart. Please don’t leave me.”

“I have every reason to.”

“I know that.”

“There must be something wrong with me, Seto…there must be something wrong with us.”

“You’ve always been what’s right about me.”

“Have I?”

“Yes, Honey.”

“I didn’t mean for that conversation to go the way it did, Seto. My intention was not to hurt you. I’m not a malicious person.” Seto didn’t answer. “Sit up for a moment, Seto.” Seto obeyed him. “This will be the last time I’m going to let you spend the night here. After Friday’s charity dinner I will be deciding how often we see each other, is that understood?”

“Yes, Honey.”

“I feel like I’m being pulled in two directions. You make me feel like I’m a crazy person, Seto. But I don’t want to feel that way anymore.”

“Yes, Honey.”

“Put on something appropriate for bed.” Seto got off the bed and began taking off his clothes. Yami slipped off his cut off shorts. “Turn off the lights, would you.” Seto complied before slipping back into bed.

“I love you, Yami,” Seto said, softly, snuggling up to his estranged fiancé.

“I know you love me, Seto.” Yami gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead. “I love you as well, some of the time.”

“Can I have a kiss. A little one?”

“One little kiss.” Yami gave him a sweet kiss. “Now go to sleep.” Seto rested his head against Yami’s chest and was thankful Yami didn’t object.


-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

“To be honest, I don’t know what enedened. One minute I was trying to get the tramp out of Yugi’s bed, the next minute he was all over me like stink on a shirt. I tried to stop him, but lust took over.”

“What are you going to say to Yugi?”

“I want to talk to Yami first.”

“Yami?”

“Yes. I want to know if he was just hot for me that night, or if this has turned into a love triangle.”

“There’s no reason to think Yami didn’t act the way he did because he’s hung up on Seto.”

“You think he’ll tell him?”

“I don’t know. If he does, he probably won’t mention any names. Especially since Yugi and Seto have a sorted past. Seto’s asked Yugi for sex more than once.”

“He has?”

“Yes, this was before you were really in the picture. Yugi said he turned him down.”

“And you think he didn’t?”

“I didn’t say that. If Yugi said he turned Kaiba down then we have no choice but to believe him. Besides, we have a more important issue to deal with.”

“I can’t believe I did that. I just…I don’t know…I’m sure Yugi hates me.”

“Hate is a strong word, Bakura.”

“I don’t even know what to say to him.”

“Well, don’t you think you should talk to him before you talk to Yami.”

“No, that fucking slut is the first person I want to talk to.”

“Just don’t fuck him again.”

“I won’t.”

“It wasn’t worthy of a second go?”

“Come on, Tristan…do you doubt he’s good in bed? That’s not the point. I love Yugi.”

“Just making sure. So you’re going to talk to Yami then, this is your plan.”

“Yeah. I’m going to talk to him and give him a piece of my mind. And once we’re on the same page I’ll speak to Babyface.”


Author’s Endnotes: What can be said? Bakura? Yugi? Joey almost…with Yami? Shit on a stick… I really am a bitch. The confrontation between Yami and Bakura will be biblical. As for Seto and Yami… did you pay attention? Yami didn’t apologize for sleeping with Bakura, nor did he tell Seto he wouldn’t sleep with someone else again. Yami holds all the cards in his hand, and they both know it. Yami’s playing games, alright. And I think he’s enjoying himself. Yes, Kat said it back, he’s acting real sometime-ish. Here’s what happens next:

“I had a conversation with your boyfriend, Aibou.” Yami gave Yugi a pointed look.

“What did Kura say?”

“He said a lot, Aibou. He told me everything.”

“Everything?”

“He told me what happened to you, Yugi.”