Return to the Light

Return to the Light

Summary: It’s been three years since Seto Kaiba left Domino. He now returns only to find his friends have gone down a dark path. After all they had done for him, Seto now feels that it’s up to him to bring his friends out of the darkness, and help them start over.

Disclaimer: I don’t own a damn thing.

******YAOI WARNING********

Chapter 6- Explanations

“Well,” Yami said, surrendering. “After Grampa died, we were, lonely. The Game Shop just wasn’t home without him. We couldn’t stand it. We started spending more and more time away from it. We went to that club one night. We were invited. I had met one of the dancers at another club. We went to check it out. My friend, introduced us to the manager. He asked us if we could dance. So, we hit the dance floor and had some fun. We attracted more attention than those who were getting paid for attracting attention. And we liked it. We loved moving with eachother, we loved the thrill of the crowd, we loved the whole atmosphere, all of it.” Yugi smiled, remembering.

“We started going to the club every night, and it happened just like that, every night. After two weeks, the manager offered us a job. We took it. We were nervous at first, because we were on a stage, and, well, we were expected to strip, but we found out how enjoyable it could be. As long as we were together, it all felt, right.”

“There’s nothing right with what you were doing.” Seto snapped.

“Well, we liked it, and we stuck with it. We moved into an apartment closer to work. We haven’t been back to the Game Shop since. That’s about it.” Yami said, shrugging. Kaiba sighed, and nodded, then turned to Ryou and Bakura. Ryou looked at Bakura, who scowled. Ryou sighed, knowing that Bakura wouldn’t say a thing.

“I lost my job at the book store. Bakura kept coming in, feeling me up, and scaring away customers.” Bakura snickered. “After that, I couldn’t get hired again, and if I was, it didn’t last long. Money grew tight. Bakura felt guilty I guess. He started sleeping around for money to pay the bills. One night, he took me with him. I was, scared. But, it was okay, I guess. He started taking me with him more and more. And then, he double booked one night, so he sent me to one person, while he went to the other. We made twice as much like that, so we did it more often. Then, gradually, he stopped sleeping around, and just sent me out. We’ve been doing it ever since. He still comes with me sometimes. That’s all there is to say, really.” Ryou, through all this, made no eye contact with anyone.

“It’s not that I enjoy it, I don’t. But, we need the money. Even with as much as I make, we’re struggling. After dad died, we had to sell the house. You know that. We don’t have much in the banks. That’s for emergencies. We make as much money as we can, and this seems to make us the most. What other choice do we have? If we had quit, we’d be on the streets.” Ryou whimpered. Bakura looked down, a depressed look on his face.

“I’m sorry, Ryou.” He said, softly, taking his light’s hand. “I wish we had more options.”

“You do!” Kaiba snapped. “You could have come to me for help! I would have gladly helped!”

“We can’t always rely on others!” Bakura snarled. “We have to make it on our own! It’s the way people survive. And we do it the best way we know how. So just back off, rich boy! We can’t all be owners of our own multi-billion dollar companies!” Kaiba sighed, and looked to Malik and Marik. Malik shrugged.

“I have connections on the Black Market all over the world. I make a lot of money fencing stolen goods. I’m the best in town, I can fix it so it’s untraceable, which not many can say. That’s about it.”

“I had some friends in the business.” Marik said, shrugging as well. “It was good money.” He put the drugs on the table back into his pocket. Kaiba and Mokuba looked at eachother.

“Why do you care, Kaiba?” Yami asked. “You left.”

“If I had known that this was going to happen, I wouldn’t have.” Seto snapped. “You have no idea how much it hurts me to see you all like this. Doing what you’re doing. You’re above all of this. You’re better than this.”

“Here that, Yami?” Yugi drawled. “Apparently, Kaiba thinks we’re better than this!”

“Well, then,” Yami said, in a sarcastic tone. “We’ll just pack up and move our act to Vegas.” He and Yugi stood. “Bakura’s right. We can’t all be big shot corporate executives.” He gave Kaiba a cold look, and turned on his heel, stalking out of the room, Yugi by his side. Malik and Marik glared at Kaiba, and followed, Bakura on their heels. Ryou remained, staring at the table. He looked up at Kaiba and Mokuba.

“You’re right.” He said, softly. “We are better than this. And, I should have asked for your help. Well, better late than never as they say.” Seto stared at Ryou, who looked at him pleadingly. A tear slipped down his face. “Will you help me? Will you help us? Please, Seto. We need your help. And they know it, their pride just won’t let them admit it.” Seto stood, and walked over to Ryou, who stood as well.

“Of course.” He said, wiping Ryou’s tear away with his thumb. “I’ll do everything I can.”

“Ryou!” A voice snapped. Ryou looked over at Bakura standing in the doorway.

“I have to go. Thank you.” He said quietly, then hurried out the door. Bakura gave Seto a glare, before following his light.

“C’mon, Mokuba.” Seto said, after a moment. “We have work to do.”

*************

Kaiba smirked, when the lock clicked open.

“Where did you learn to do that?” He asked Mokuba, who stood, putting the lock pick into his pocket. They entered the Game Shop.

“Wouldn’t you like to know…” Mokuba snickered. He turned on the lights. Mokuba and Seto stared soberly at the Game shop. It was a mess. Dust covered everything. There were signs of rats, chewing up what little cards and what not remained on the shelves. Kaiba sighed, and left the store, going into the house attached to it. It was almost as bad. Dark, and dusty, and rat infested.

“We need to hire a team to clean this place up.” He said, in a monotone voice.

“It’s depressing.” Mokuba said. “We had so much fun here. It looks so dead.”

“Well, with some luck, it’ll be the way it used to be. We have to get Yugi and Yami back here.”

“And Ryou?”

“We’ll help them all get back onto their feet. We have to help them get their lives back in order.”

“Do you think we can?”

“We have to, Mokuba. Let’s go. Ryou said they were all going out to lunch today. He told me when, and where.”

“They won’t be happy. With us, or Ryou.” Mokuba said.

***************

“What do you want?” Marik snarled, when Kaiba sat down at the table. The yami’s and hikaris all refused to look at Kaiba, concentrating on their meals in stony silence, whereas they had been conversing animatedly before Kaiba and Mokuba sat down. Ryou glanced up, and Kaiba was glad to see the spark of hope in the boy’s eye.

“I want to help you.” Kaiba said. “I want to help you get back on your feet. You could get hurt doing what you’re doing. I don’t want to see you hurt.”

“We didn’t ask for your help.” Bakura snarled.

“Ryou did.” Mokuba said. Ryou shrunk back under the intense glares the others subjected him to.

“We do need help!” Ryou whimpered. “I don’t know about you, but I don’t like the way I’m living my life now. And I’m getting out of it. With, or without you. Admit it, you aren’t thrilled with your lives either.” Yugi was the first to look away, followed by Yami, then Malik.

“We can change our lives on our own.” Yami said.

“then why haven’t you?” Kaiba snapped. “You need help. I can give it too you.”

“And if we refuse to accept it?” Yami snarled. Mokuba whispered into Seto’s ear. He smirked.

“I’ll make you a deal, Yami. I think you’re no longer worthy of your title, as Game King.” Yami jerked his head up, glaring at Kaiba.

“I have been the Game King for 5000 years, Kaiba. What makes you think that I’m not anymore?”

“Prove to me that you are, Yami. I challenge you to a duel!” Kaiba shouted, making the whole restaurant stare. “Show me that are still the King of Games. You win, I’ll drop it, and leave you alone. I win,” Kaiba paused, for dramatic effect. “And you will let me help you. All six of you.” they all frowned.

“Would you excuse us for a moment?” Bakura snarled. Kaiba and Mokuba nodded, and moved away. The six boys put their heads together.

“That was a good idea.” Seto muttered to Mokuba.

“Well, we both know Yami never turns down a challenge.” Mokuba said.

“And if I lose?”

“You won’t.” Mokuba said. “Not if you use Yami’s greatest weapon against him.”

“And what is that?”

“The Heart of the Cards.” Kaiba blinked, then smiled, nodding. They turned, when Yami stood, and faced them, the others behind him.

“We accept your challenge Kaiba.”

*****************

Next chapter: Kaiba vs. Mouto! Need I say more?

Oh, yeah, still looking around for a place on the web to put my fan art! Lemme know if you can help me out!