In A Different Way

In A Different Way
By DarkGiggle
Part 4

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Disclaimer: I don’t own Yu-Gi-Oh. I don’t even like Yu-Gi-Oh but I just love Seto-Chan! I make no money off this so don’t sue!
Plot: Will be very OOC and very mild for the moment, beyond that I haven’t decided yet. :) However I don’t think I’ll keep it G-rated for too long. Language and Yaoi are sure to come.
Author’s Note: This is a Seto Kaiba story. I’ll pair him with someone as soon as I decide whom. I might have him flirt a bit and experiment with a few people he won’t end up with. (giggle)

People Seto won’t be paired with: Mokuba, Honda, Anzu, Yami no Bakura, Isis, Yami no Marik, Marik, Pegasus, Noah, Seth or any girl.
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Blue eyes met patient dark ones and suddenly it was easier to be in the room. “As I was saying, why should I? It would be a useless, waste of time to delay the inevitable and more than likely to weigh on Sugoroku-San’s health.”

The white haired boy watched Mokuba nod in agreement while the others just looked confused. Being confused himself he asked, “I don’t understand what is so inevitable and how Yugi-Kun’s grandfather’s health could be affected. Please explain your reasoning Kaiba-San.”

Seto, while please to learn Bakura knew when to inquire for clarification, internally rolled his eyes at himself, of course his non-exec classmates wouldn’t understand. He’d have to break it down into baby bits. What a hassle. “Try to think like a business man as I explain this,” He ordered, as he didn’t want to have to repeat this. “Sugoroku-San obviously does not keep tract of his competitor’s business or he would have known about Yuushiki Games at least two months back. As the Yuushiki Games Corp. did not and do not see Kame Game shop as a threat they didn’t bother to keep the purchase of that store location a secret.” He checked to see they were all still following him on this. “As the new game shop is scheduled to open in just another two months fliers and other media adds will begin to announce it to the public any day now. The Kame Game shop would have had to have something drastic prepared to out maneuver or top Yuushiki’s adds. As that is not the case, the Kame Game shop will be caught unprepared.” Seto stopped to take a drink of his water.

Strangely enough it was Hiroto that spoke up then, “I still don’t see how anything is inevitable or unhealthy for Yugi’s grandpa. Couldn’t we all just scramble to help him and put something together?”

“I was getting to that.” Seto shot him an annoyed look. “Although that could work this time what about the next time?” Seto leaned back in his chair. “The truth is, with one phone call I could make it very… unprofitable for Yuushiki Games to move into Mutou-San’s neighborhood.” At that he received a lot of startled looks but ignored them to plow right on. “But then what about the next game shop and the one after that and the one after that. And there will be others.” He looked around the table and caught everyone but the inu’s eyes. “There will be others because with our generation and with every generation younger than us the gaming world holds increasingly greater impact and appeal. Every year more kids and adolescents turn to games. They are buying games, playing games, and putting value on games thus producing and distributing games has become increasingly lucrative and competitive. Therefore-”

“Nii-San,” Mokuba disrupted, “let me finish it please.” His brother was doing a good job explaining so far but Mokuba just sensed he was about to put his foot in his mouth. He went on as soon as he got a slight nod. “Yugi, now that Yuushiki Games looked in your neighborhood’s direction other companies will be looking as well. And your grandpa’s not a young man anymore, it would put a lot of strain on him to keep up with Yuushiki and other companies. If he really wanted to stay competitive he would have to do a lot to stay in the race. It might be better if he started to think about retiring or selling his shop.” He looked to his brother, “Did I miss anything Nii-San?”

“Not much,” He said proudly. It was good to see Mokuba had been paying close attention to his business lectures. He would have added a bit on how old farts from that generation just can’t seem to learn new business tricks but what his Ototo said was enough.

Katsuya, Hiroto and Ryo looked and felt depressed. So did Yugi from inside Yami. Yami himself was uncertain. The Kaiba brothers’ words made a lot of sense from the business stand point but to have Sugoroku close up shop just sounded wrong to his ears.

“Kaiba-San,” Ryo piped up, “couldn’t you just do something to help now? Something to buy Sugoroku-San some time? Even if it is inevitable it doesn’t mean the Kame Game shop has to pack up now, right?”

Internally Mokuba pitied his friend. His brother wasn’t one to do selfless acts or charity. He- The black haired boy’s jaw dropped as Seto brought out his cell.

Seto looked at all the surprise on the still faces. “I know you twerps. If I don’t help out now, you’ll just hound me later. Likely when I’m busy.” He paused to glare mildly at them all. “Understand that if I help you now you must never ask Mokuba or me to help out the game shop again. This is a one-time thing. Deal?”

Silence. Inside the Mutou body Yami ‘gak’ed as he was all-but kicked out of the way by a very eager Yugi.

“Deal?” Seto demanded.

“Deal! Yes! Once only.” Yugi yelled and was promptly backed up by everyone else.

Oh, Mutou was definitely back and for some reason he was put off by it. Seto got up and began dialing. As he could here a ringing from the other line, he looked at Bakura and announced, “For the record, this could not come at a worse time.” Before he even thought to elaborate, the other line picked up. “Takahashi?...This is Kaiba…” The tallest brunet walked away from the table and into the garden, putting a good distance in between him and the others.

Everyone left in the room stared in wonder. THEE Kaiba Seto was doing something nice for someone else, who wasn’t Mokuba and wasn’t asking for anything in return. Something was wrong with that picture.

Mokuba was at the edge of dumbfounded. This wasn’t like his brother at all. The Seto he knew, as much as he hated to admit it, would have gloated over having the power to help but choosing to withhold it. That being, the reason his Nii-San had given was bull-chunkies, but then why bother to lie? Unless his brother wanted to miss direct everyone. Very carefully Mokuba tilted his head forward and let his black bangs settle over his eyes, just like his brother had taught him. Through the dark tresses, without anyone being the wiser, he looked at Ryo. When Bakura had asked if Seto could help, his brother had answered him. When he had asked for clarification his brother had answered him. When he had asked for help his brother had given it. So what was up with that?

Yugi watched with bated breath as Kaiba made his call. Some part of him felt like this was a surreal moment. Besides the fact Kaiba was actually helping him, the way the sun shown down on the CEO’s honey-brown locks and smooth pale skin added to the dreamlike quality of it all.

Hiroto, though he likely should have been watching the exec for any funny business and the odd situation certainly called for vigilance, he couldn’t help watching his friend instead. The way Katsuya was looking at Kaiba was NOT normal, but he couldn’t really say what it was. Before he could piece it out Kaiba came back.

In his most commanding voice Seto ordered, “This does not leave the restaurant and we don’t speak of it again.” He sat down. “The last thing I need is people hounding me for favors.” He took a bite of his food as the silence continued he looked back up at the table. Mutou, Bakura and his Ototo were smiling at him while Honda and the inu were looking at him funny. He glared, “You know with one phone call I could easily have the city repossess the land under your homes and have small parking lots built in their place.”

All eyes quickly left him, even Mokuba, least his bro take away his video games for a week or two.

Yugi, sensing Kaiba was not in the mood to be thanked, began to talk with his friends. Soon enough there was a nice conversation going on.

As his hikari carried on with his friends Yami went back to watching Kaiba. Something about the way Kaiba was acting and the way he had looked under all that sunlight, tickled something in the back of his mind. Yami settled down on his proverbial haunches to think, this Kaiba was very different from the rich little snot he’d first met and that was a good thing. Now the question was would it continue to be a good thing?

Seto, for once this week not having the group watching him, observed them all interact together and with his brother. It wasn’t the whole group dynamic but it helped him decide. After that minutes went by quickly and it was time for him to go. Naturally it was Mokuba who first noticed.

“You’re leaving Nii-San?” he checked his watch and his eyes went round. Holy cow! It was 2:30. His brother actually stayed the whole time. Wow. “Was this lunch beneficial? Will you tell us what you were looking for now?"

Seto smirked, “I’ll tell you later, Ototo. As for the rest of you same rules as before.” He turned and left.

Seconds ticked by then Katsuya seemed to find his voice, finally. “Kid, ya gotta call us up and fill us in afta he tells ya. Dis lunch just been too weird.”

Mokuba started to get up, “No promises.” He grinned evilly, then he continued normally. “Anyway, I can’t stay this time, I’ve got homework and a test Monday to get ready for. I’ll see you guys later! Maybe I’ll even stop by the game shop with my friends.” He waved and left.

“That kid is getting to be too much like his brother.” Honda said, having been freaked out by that smile.

Yugi slouched back in his chair, relaxed for the first time today. “I don’t know that that’s a bad thing.”

Ryo nodded. “I have to agree with Yugi-Kun on this, Hiroto-Kun. There are worse people in the world for Mokuba-Kun to look up to and emulate.”

They silence after that ended with them leaving and heading for the game shop. Without a word spoken they hung out to brainstorm ways to help and just took comfort in the familiar place.

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The blue-eyed youth was dragging his tired, sorry, overworked ass in through the door, all-be-it with as much grace as humanly possible. In the dark hall, from memory he dropped his keys on a short table near by. Moving down the unlit hall he was startled to see his little brother passed out on the stairs that led up to their rooms.

He knelt down to gently shaking the younger awake he asked, “Ototo what are you doing here? You should be in bed by now.” Not waiting for an answer he scooped his sibling into his arms and began to climb the steps.

“Nii-San was going to tell me something later.” The sleepy boy murmured against a strong shoulder. “You said you would, it’s later now.”

“In the morning Mokuba. I’ll tell you first thing in the morning.”

With a weak nod of agreement, Mokuba nodded off to sleep.

In the dark of the house Seto rolled his eyes. Curious, nosey little brothers; some things in the world never seemed to change.

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Sunday morning was normally the time he liked to sleep in as his dad always slept till two from Saturday night’s drinking. So Katsuya was less than thrilled to be woken up at nine, even if it was his best friend standing at his window on his fire escape. Despite his better judgment he got up to open his window.

“What the hell ya waken me up for man?” Katsuya mumbled around a yawn and glared a somewhat cross-eyed glare at the brunet.

Hiroto chuckled and let himself in, “Well aren’t you just sunshine this morning.”

“Dude, if I have ta repeat myself this early, I’m kickin’ yar ass later, afta I wake up.” He stated then promptly collapsed back into his bed.

Eyeing the other gravely Hiroto asked, “Are you wake enough to answer a serious question?”

“Sure, shoot.” Came the breezy answer.

“Are you attracted to Kaiba?” Why did it suddenly feel like he’d just shot himself in the foot, the brunet wondered.

Katsuya blinked. Well he wasn’t sleepy anymore! Wide eyes turned to his buddy. “What the fuck kinda question is that?” he demanded, tension seeping through his voice.

Now he knew why. “The kind I need answered Katsuya.” He looked at his friend earnestly. “The kind I need answered honestly.”

The blonde swallowed then huffed. “Well yeah. I mean Money Bags is freakin’ hot.” They normally didn’t talk about his taste in men, what with his friend being straight. “Even ya can see that right?”

“Yeah I saw that yesterday.” Hiroto conceded more to keep his pal talking then anything. “But that’s not the type of attraction I was talking about.”

“What’s it yar saying? What other kinda of attraction is there?” He was genuinely puzzled at the question. Maybe it just was too early for Honda and his brain wasn’t working right.

Hiroto sighed, “I meant do you want to go after him?”

A lecherous grin spread at that question. “Ya mean sleep wit’ him? Hell yeah, I know he aint no uke but to bed Kaiba, hey sacrifices can be made.”

Honda flushed, that was more than he wanted to know. He sighed again and resisted the urge to smack the other upside the head. That wasn’t what he meant, but it was enough to know that his friend was just looking for a roll in the sheets with their rich classmate. Still better to be 100 percent sure, “So you don’t like-like Kaiba as a person, just a body.”

Was that what this was about? He snorted. It was too early for shit this stupid. “Hiroto, pal.” Very seriously, he locked his gaze with his friend’s. “Besides the body, what is there to like?”

Relieve flooded the brunet. He’d been scared there for a while. With the way Kaiba could tear down his friend, he’d been terrified of Katsuya actually loving the bastard. Somehow, on some gut instinct he knew Katsuya wouldn’t survive getting his heart ripped out and stomped on by Kaiba. Worse yet, he knew if it ever happened he’d be helpless to save his best friend. It was good to know he wouldn’t have to worry about his friend there. Now if the blonde ever batted and struck out at getting Kaiba as a bed partner, well that was a hard kick to the ego but fixable. “So, you what to go to the game shop? You’re up, Yami’s up and Yugi should be up soon.”

Jonochi scanned his friend once more. “So that’s it?” he asked, “Or what you like him now?”

Hiroto straightened his back and in his most adult voice challenged, “And if I said I did?”

A laugh erupted out of him, but once he calmed down, “I’d say you need some acting lessons.”

Hiroto swatted at his friend, then made for the window. “Yeah, yeah just get dressed.”

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Yami stood in the entrance to his old room, he could hear sounds of movement coming from deeper with in but with dappled moonlight as the only light source he couldn’t see it. Walking in, past his old Egyptian furnishings, he made his way closer to the sounds.

Yami stopped once he realized the sounds were coming from his old canopy bed. He flushed as the smacking sound of flesh became clearer to him. Oh for Ra’s sake, he walked in on himself having sex! Of all the things to remember in a dream! He should leave and he turned to do just that…

Until he heard his past-self growl out a low, “I love you.”

Yami swirled around. What? He didn’t remember having any past lover, let alone a past love. He stared at the thin veil that separated him, Yami, from who he had been, Atem, Ruler of all Egypt. As his eyes adjusted further to the dim moonbeams he could see Atem’s outline. He could see his spiked hair, his tensed back and his moving hips. Hips that had a pair of long legs wrapped around them.

He turned away. What good would it do him now? To know of a past love who was so very long gone. Still his feet seemed reluctant to carry him out. Behind him the lovers seemed to find completion that had to have been muffled in a kiss, given what he was hearing.

Inside him his heart clenched, then squeezed further at Atem’s heavily panting voice, “I love you, only you and upon my soul I swear to love you for all eternity.”

A quiet snore was all Atem got back. Which strangely enough made the Pharaoh Atem chuckle. “Only you would sleep through such a declaration.”

That’s it, he had to know now, honor for the memory of this person demanded it as well as curiosity. Yami spun around and reached out for the veil.

“At this rate all my wives will die as virgins and I’ll have no heirs thanks to you my precious.”

Yami’s hand froze on the cloth. It wasn’t one of his past wives? He was committing adultery? He paused and tried to see through the veil again. Atem’s form was spooned up to a larger, lithe body but due to the lack of light he couldn’t see more.

Enough of this! Yami tensed to rip back the sheet when he himself was torn out of the dream world as Yugi woke.

Yami held back a scowl and a select choice of words he suddenly had for his other half. He would not be unkind to his hikari when cowardice had kept him from acting sooner.

‘’‘Is everything alright Yami? You seem upset.’‘’

‘’‘It’s nothing. I am just a little disoriented this morning….. We should head down to breakfast now.’‘’

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By lunch Monday Yugi felt like he was one taut string about to snap, mainly due to Anzu and Ryuji endlessly pumping him for details, partly due to Yami keeping something from him and also due to the wondering if Kaiba would do anything to day. Then, when the CEO came to the door of the caf with a pair of keys in hand and a raised eyebrow Yugi was not disappointed.

Yugi was out the door and down the hall before his friends could blink. Maybe it was his wanting to, in someway, return Kaiba’s favor that caused him to spring into action. Maybe it was because without Kaiba the boredom of plain, old school would drive him nuts. Or maybe it was because when he was around Kaiba lately he felt like a major shift in the planet could happen at any moment. Needless to say he was the first of his friends up to the top of the stairs. As he pushed open the door a blast of sun hit him in the face, he squinted and looked for Kaiba through the luminance.

Still squinting he saw a tall, bare-chested figure with dark skin, a long white skirt and an Egyptian style headdress. In his head Yami sucked in his proverbial breath. Moving out of the sun’s direct light Yugi opened his eyes and saw normal Kaiba Seto standing were the figure had been

‘’‘Yami did you?...’‘’

‘’‘Yes, and you?...’‘’

‘’‘Yes. Yami what’s going on?’‘’

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End Part 4.
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