Healing

First Things First: Thanks again guys for the lovely reviews… they always put a smile on my face. I don’t know where I came up with the idea for the Yugi gang sitting around watching porn in their boxers, it’s something I think my friends and I would do if I were a guy, and had more gay guy friends. hehehe. Mokuba as the secret admirer…awww, what a cute idea… I didn’t think anyone would think about that…Not to say I did or didn’t think about that personally…I can’t really discuss that since by the end of this chapter Tristan’s secret admirer will have to reveal himself. And as for Seto… precious time is ticking away… Anyway, we rejoin this story on Tuesday, after school. So this is it guys… the last chapter… And cause I was enjoying myself I decided on an epilogue… I’ve been writing away, and hopefully by the end of this week I’ll post my next story… I’m not sure w sto story is my “next” story… but after that one I’ll try to get out the sequel to So In Love With Two, So in Love With You. Anyway… enjoy and please review… Thanks…


Disclaimer: I so don’t own this… Well… the story I own… the characters I don’t…. I don’t want to talk about it…. Oh… and there’s a lemon cause I’m a hentai at heart…


Chapter 7: Revealed

“I thought you were supposed to be meeting Takashi after school today,” Duke asked, surprised to see Tristan at his doorstep.

“He said something came up at work and that he’d like to reschedule for Thursday.”

“I see.”

Yugi and Yami were over the Kaiba mansion with Mokuba, since they had all assumed Tristan would be busy with Takashi. But since he had canceled last minute Tristan had nothto dto do, so he decided he’d go visit Duke.

“Can I come in, or are you busy?”

“Nope. I’m free. Come in Tristan.” Tristan followed Duke into the living room. The game creator had been playing video games since he arrived home from work.

“So, any news, any new leads?”

“Joey called and said that some guy in his science class has been telling everyone that he’s your secret admirer. But he doesn’t fit the MO. He doesn’t like Kaiba, but he was absent on Friday last week, so unless he had someone else drop the rose off then it’s not him. Joey thinks that the guy could be some kind of decoy employed by your real secret admirer to throw you off.”

“I thought my secret admirer wanted me to figure out who he was. What did he say the last note?”

Duke had a copy of the note. They all did.

He read the familiar words:

“I feel you’re no closer to guessing my identity than you were last week. You haven’t approached me yet, and I fear that means you’ll be disappointed by me on Saturday.”

“This person is unsure of himself, Joey’s guy is obviy coy cocky.”

“Well, Tris, this also means that it probably isn’t Takashi either. Especially since you’ve actually started talking to him more since this began.”

“That’s the other thing, it has to be someone that I’ve been speaking too. I don’t talk to that many people, Duke. Not actual conversations, anyway.”

“I know.” Duke frowned. “What, Tris?”

“Duke, no more bullshit. Is this you? It’s just you and me here. I want the truth.”

Duke widened his eyes.

“Are you my secret admirer, Duke?”

“Do you think I’m you secret admirer, Tris? Do you really believe that?”

“Don’t answer my question with questions of your own, I asked you first.”

“You’re angry with me. I take that to mean you don’t want it to be me.”

“Duke, please. I’d be very happy and flattered if it was you.”

“But you don’t love me, Tristan.”

“I never claimed to.” Duke gave Tristan a look. “I didn’t mean it harshly, Duke.”

“Why do you keep asking me if I’m your secret admirer? I’ve answered you a good ten times since this started. But you keep asking me. Why is that?”

“Maybe I don’t believe your answers.” Duke narrowed his eyes. “Listen, I’m not trying to be accusatory, but if you’re putting me through this torment I want you to stop, I can’t take this anymore. And just because I don’t love you doesn’t mean I couldn’t. Duke, you’ve been a wonderful friend. And Seto’s been an asshole this entire time, and there’s no reason something couldn’t develop between us later on.”

“Tristan, I’d love to take the credit for such an original, romantic idea, but the truth is, this isn’t my idea. And more important, I don’t love you, not like that. I wish there was something else I could say that would completely eliminate me as a suspect, but you and everyone else is convinced that I’m responsible for this, so I guess I’ll have to suffer until Saturday’s unveiling.”

“Look me in the eyes and tell me you have nothing to do with this, Duke.” Duke narrowed his eyes.

His green eyes looked almost deadly.

“Tristan, I’m not going to be discussing this with you anymore. I won’t be badgered. If you want to believe it’s me you go right ahead. But I’m not going to go jump through hoops to prove my innocence. What’s next, you’re going tok mok me up to a lie detector test?”

“Duke…”

“I’ve had it, Tristan. This thing is making you act ridiculous. You’re not really angry at me, you’re angry that Seto Kaiba isn’t reacting the way you hoped he would. You, like everyone else assumed he’d swallow his pride and at least attempt to win you back…”

“Wait a minute, what did you say?”

“I said you’re acting ridiculous.”

“No after that.”

“I said that you’re angry Kaiba’s not reacting the way everyone thought he would.”

“Shit.”

“Shit what, Tris?”

“Mokuba.”

“I thought today was Yugi and Yami’s day to watch Mokuba?”

“What if this is Mokuba?”

“Mokuba? As your secret admirer? That makes no sense. Sure he loves you, but I was pretty sure the little guy was straight, and besides I thought he’s been telling everyone that he’s in love with Kimi.”

“No, I don’t think he’s in love with me. What if he’s doing it to make Seto jealous?”

“What?”

“Yeah, he could have spoken to Yugi or something and gotten him to put the roses in my locker. Unless of course you’re helping Mokuba.”

“I assure you, Tristan, I am not helping Mokuba put roses in your locker.”

“Maybe it’s Yugi.”

“And how would that work, Tristan? Mokuba is sick, he’s not going to go meet you some place without Kaiba’s permission, and if Kaiba discovers that it’s really him he’s only going to be more likely to continue to act as if he doesn’t care. Come on, Tristan. The whole point is that everyone assumes this person’s some great guy, and Kaiba’s supposed to be jealous. He’s not going to be jealous of Mokuba. He’s going to be pissed off.”

“Yeah, but Seto wouldn’t know it was Mokuba until Saturday.”

“He’s an eleven year old. Is an eleven year old going to come up with putting a rose a day in your locker?”

“I don’t know.”

“And the real question is, who in the world would be in cahoots with Mokuba? Yami, Tea, Mai, and Yugi only see the little guy on Mondays when they go to watch him. Joey, Ryou, Malik and Bakura go on Wednesdays, and I doubt the three of them are conspiring with Mokuba. I never watch Mokuba after school since I have to work. So I don’t see how this person would be running into Mokuba. And who is writing these notes? Nobody’s handwriting matches. That basically blows your entire theory out of the water. I can’t imagine there being a host of conspirators in on this. Someone would have slipped, Hell, Mokuba would have slipped, he’s a young kid. Bakura burps and he giggles, he’s not going to be able to mastermind an elaborate scheme and get one of our friends to help him carry it out.”

Tristan took in what Duke said.

Maybe Duke was right.

Or maybe Duke was only saying this to throw him off the trail.

Either way, Tristan was finding it harder to believe Duke entirely. He was hiding something. Tristan just didn’t know what.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

“Did you have a good day a work today, Seto?” Mokuba asked, changing into his pajamas. It was Wednesday night. His makeshift babysitters had left for the day, and Seto was home from work.

“Work was fine.”

“How was Tristan? Did he have a good day at school, did he get his rose?”

“No and yes.” Mokuba looked at Seto to elaborate. “He wants to know who his secret admirer is, so he was pretty distracted today. But yes, he did receive his rose, like scheduled.”

“Why is he so upset about who his secret admirer is? I’d think he’d be more worried that you wouldn’t do anything about it.”

“Funny you should say that, Mokuba. Tristan and I had a discussion in physics class about his secret admirer. And you. It seems Tristan had suspicions that you might have an indirect tie to all of this chaos.”

“Me? Why would he think it was me? I don’t love, Tristan. He’s a guy.”

“We know that, Mokuba. Tristan figured that if you did have something to do with it then your motivations would be to make me jealous.”

Mokuba blushed. “Is Tristan mad?” Mokuba asked.

“Mad?” Seto asked evenly.

“Is he mad because he thinks I’ve been doing it? I really haven’t, Seto. Honest. I don’t want him to think it’s me; I would never do that to him. Or to you either. Really.”

“I convinced him that there was no way possible you could be anyway involved in this nonsense.”

“And he believed you?”

“Yes.”

“Good,” Mokuba said, with a sigh of relief. “I can’t believe he’d think it was me.”

“He’s grasping at straws at this point.”

“Yeah. I can see that, Seto.” Mokuba looked at Seto for a moment. “What about you, Seto? Do you think it’s me?”

Seto sighed, exasperated. “No, Mokuba. Absolutely not. You make a pretty lousy suspect.”

“And why’s that?”

“Because I know you’d never do anything as foolish as that, Mokuba. I know you wouldn’t deliberately meddle in my affairs.” Seto narrowed his eyes at Mokuba. “Would you, Mokuba?”

“No, of course not, Seto.”

“Of course not. Goodnight, Mokuba.”

“Goodnight, Seto.” Seto kissed Mokuba on the cheek and headed to his own room.

Tristan and his conversation in physics had been most amusing.

Tristan suspecting Mokuba.

The thought of it being Mokuba was actually, cute. In a weird way.

Tristan had proposed that Yugi and Mokuba were conspiring with each other, which was actually an adorable idea.

Rationally, the idea was completely wrong.

But still, it amused the billionaire anyway.

Was he really that lost? Did he really have no idea who it was?

Interesting.

Unless of course Tristan’s number one suspect was still Duke Devlin.
Ma
Maybe Tristan had decided that it was Duke and he was simply trying to test his theory by running over every possible suspect.

It was Wednesday night.

If Tristan didn’t know who it was by now, he wouldn’t know until Saturday.

Unless Tristan really did think it was Duke.

A prospect that would be most disturbing.

There was nothing Seto could do about that, of course.

For all he knew Tristan could have already confronted people with his suspicions.

I wasn’t going to be thinking about this crap tonight, it’s time for bed. Seto let the entire thing drop and got ready to go to sleep. It had been a long day, all he wanted was rest.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

“So?” Mokuba had a devious look on his face.

Tristan and him were sitting in Mokuba’s bedroom Thursday afternoon.

“So what?”

“So, how was coffee with Takashi?” Mokuba continued, quite interested in knowing if Tristan had any guesses as to whom his secret admirer was. Guesses that weren’t him, of course. Actually, Mokuba was more concerned with his older brother’s disregard of the entire situation. He acted as if he could care less who it was.

And that was ticking Mokuba off to no end.

Why was he trying to be so nonchalant? Didn’t he care that Tristan could fall in love with some new guy?

“Well, is Takashi Jun your secret admirer?”

“No. He’s not. He was the best suspect I had. Besides Duke, at least.”

“Maybe it really is Duke, then, Tristan,” Mokuba offered.

“Honestly this whole thing is pissing me off. Duke has sworn to me multiple times that he’s not my secret admirer. But I have a feeling he’s behind this somehow. Like maybe giving my Romeo my locker combination.”

“What makes you say that, Tristan?” Mokuba asked, narrowing his eyes the way Seto often did.

“There’s something about the way Duke’s been acting this entire time. I can’t put my finger on it, but there’s something going on. And if he’s not my secret admirer I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s some how involved. And if I find out he has let me suffer all this time there’s going to be Hell to pay.”

“You’d really be mad if one of your friends was secretly involved in this?kubakuba asked, lifting an eyebrow.

“To a degree. I guess I’d only be really mad if the secret admirer was someone god-awful, in which case then my supposed friend will be very sorry.”

“Tristan, I’m sure who ever it is likes you very much. Probably almost as much as Seto does.”

“Your brother and I have nothing going on, Mokuba.”

“Yeah, cause my brother is an idiot. But I think if you pushed a little he’d give in. It’s almost Saturday.”

“I know, I have the day circled on my calendar.”

“Where are you supposed to meet him?”

“He hasn’t said anything yet. I don’t know if he’ll just stop off at my house, or if he wants me to go to him or what. I guess I’ll find out soon enough. This is really driving me insane, Mokuba.”

“I know it is.” Then Mokuba started coughing.

He had been coughing a lot the last three days. The nurse said it was possible that Mokuba could be gaining a tolerance to the medication.

Tristan ru Mok Mokuba’s back until Mokuba stopped.

“Sorry, Tristan.”

“Would you stop apologizing every time you start coughing? It’s not your fault you’re still sick.” Tristan gave the other boy water. “Do you want me to give you something?”

“No. I don’t really feel very good though.” Tristan nodded. He sat against the pillows and let Mokuba curl up into him.

“What’s wrong?”

“My head is spinning, and my throat really hurts and I’m cold.” Tristan felt the back of Mokuba’s neck.

“You still have a fever. Let me see if I can give you something that’s not going to have a problem with the other medication.” Tristan got up and started looking through the medicine bottles.

“Tristan, I really don’t feel good at all.”

“Do you want to eat something, Mokuba?”

“No.”

“Do you want to go to sleep?”

“I feel really sick.” Tristan gave Mokuba a concerned look and found something that wouldn’t interfere with the antibiotics.

“Here, take one of these.”

“I can’t swallow that, it’s too big.”

“Mokuba, you have to, you have another fever.”

“It’s too big, Tristan.” Mokuba looked miserable.

“If I cut it in half will you swallow the pieces?” Mokuba nodded. Tristan ran down the stairs to find a knife.

When he returned Mokuba was sniffling.

“What’s wrong, Mokuba?” Tristan gave him the pill pieces.

“I don’t feel good.”

“Take this, so the fever can go away.” Mokuba did.

“I’m cold.”

“I know, Mokuba.” Tristan slipped back into the bed and Mokuba laid on him, still sniffling.

Tristan felt Mokuba’s forehead again.

“You’re burning up, Mokuba.”

“I’m really cold.”

“Let me get you another sweatshirt.” Tristan found one of Seto’s and helped Mokuba get it over his head. “Did you eat all of your soup this afternoon?” Tristan got back onto the bed with the thermometer.

“What soup?”

“The chicken soup Marie brought up.”

“No.”

“When did you eat last?”

“I don’t remember.”

“Mokuba, you have to take your medication on a full stomachherwherwise you can make yourself sick. Let me go find you something to eat, what do you want?”

“I don’t want anything. I feel really sick.”

“Let’s see how bad the fever is.”

Mokuba had been fairly warm since Tristan got over to the Kaiba household. But Now Mokuba was very hot, and shivering.

Tristan stuck the thermometer in Mokuba’s ear and waited a couple of seconds.

~.~

“Tristan?” Seto picked up the phone, recognizing Tristan’s cell phone number on his cell phone’s caller ID.

“I’m taking Mokuba to the emergency room,” Tristan answered.

“What happened?” Seto’s voice was dark and demanding.

“His fever’s been bad all day, I gave him some medication an hour ago, it did nothing for the fever so I called the nurse and she said she can’t see him right now because she was on her way to the hospital and hisiatriatrician is busy delivering twins. The nurse suggested I take him to a clinic but that will probably take too long and his fever is now 103. We’re in the limo right now.”

“I’ll be there in about six minutes.”

“That won’t be necessary. I was talking to the nurse on the phone. He’s not symptomatic for anything severe. She thinks it’s just a relapse. She just suggested going to the hospital so they could give him something to get the fever to go down. I already tried having Mokuba soak in a freezing cold tub but it wasn’t doing anything.”

“Tristan…”

“I’m only calling you so you know. Mokuba’s fine, otherwise, he’s not coughing at the moment, or showing any other signs of something worse. The nurse said she’d be over tonight, just to do a follow up. I have the situation completely under control.”

Seto said nothing.

“Mokuba’s sleeping, he hasn’t been eating. So every time he takes the antibiotics and whatever other medicine we’ve been giving him his stomach hasn’t been full. Listen, if I thought for a moment that this was severe I’d tell you to take the helicopter to the hospital. But everything’s going to be okay. I was debating whether or not I should call you before or after we left the hospital. You have that meeting today anyway.”

“Mokuba is a hundred times more important than a meeting, Tristan.”

“I know that, but I guarantee that he’ll be fine. I’ll call you when we’re on the way home.”

“If I don’t get a call when the meeting is over I’m going to the hospital.”

“Alright, but unless there’s a serious back up at the emergency room right now, I’ll probably call you first.”

~.~

Seto opened the door. Mokuba and Tristan were asleep. Mokuba was snuggled into Tristan, Tristan had his head against the headboard of Mokuba’s bed. Seto checked Mokuba’s forehead.

No fever.

Mokuba was breathing normally. His color was a healthy hue.

And there were two plates leftover from dinner.

Seto hated to do it, but he nudged Tristan awake anyway. Tristan blinked a few times and looked down at Mokuba, and pressed his hand against the back of Mokuba’s head to make sure the fever hadn’t retuned.

Satisfied he untangled himself from Mokuba and stood up, Seto helping him.

They waited until they were out of the room and the door was closed to speak.

“I made sure he ate all his dinner. The nurse said that despite today’s littetbaetback there should be no reason why Mokuba shouldn’t be healthy enough to return to school in a week or two. She also scolded Mokuba about not eating his food when he takes medication. Mokuba promised he’d try to eat as much as he could. But lamented that he was never hungry. Except for junk food.”

Seto nodded.

“Anyway, Mokuba’s fine now, when we got home Mokuba was giggly again, and after he did some studying and ate dinner he went right to sleep. I noticed if I give him warm milk at around 7 he’ll be asleep by 8.”

Seto still said nothing.

“I’m sorry if he worried you earlier. But we were really only in the emergency room for an hour, they just checked to make sure that nothing serious was wrong, gave him some stuff and we were on our way. There’s nothing else to worry about now. He’s a tough little kid and…”

Seto stopped Tristan words with a kiss. It was loving and slow, Tristan was startled but accepted Seto’s tongue’s intrusion. There was no lustful demanding in this kiss. No hurry. It was slow, and sensual, as their lips melted into each other. Seto pulled away, finally, needing to take a breath before his lungs collapsed.

“That’s the second time you did that, interrupted me like that.”

“I’d apologize if I really felt bad for doing that, Tristan.” Tristan blushed.

“Why? What was it for?”

“For letting me trust you with Mokuba. He’s my world’s happiness.”

“I know he is.” Seto said nothing. “And how is his brother, okay?”

“He’s fine, now that he’s home and sees that Mokuba has been well taken care of.”

“Was work alright?”

“It was long and I had a lot of stuff that needed to be done. Which is why I had to have the meeting.”

Tristan nodded. He rubbed his hand against Seto’s shoulder. “You sure about that, Seto?”

“Yes.”

“Okay.”

“Let me drive you home.”

“Only if it’s not too much trouble.”

“Why would it be?”

“It’s getting late.”

Seto narrowed his eyes in annoyance and headed down the stairs. Tristan followed close behind. “Driving you home is the least I could do, Tristan.”

“Don’t start with that crap again, Seto. I swear, you and Mokuba are the two most stubborn people I know.”

“You came over here despite your previous engagement.” They got into the jag.

“What engagement?”

“Your lunch date with Takashi Jun from your gym class.” Tristan gave Seto a look. “Mokuba mentioned it.” Seto was backing out of the spot.

“I’d rather spend time with Mokuba then with some random guy, Seto.”

“Well, there have certainly been a lot of random guys.”

There was some bitterness in Seto’s voice.

“I guess so.”

“So did you go with Takashi to the coffee house?”

“Yes. I came to your house afterwards, and I’d hardly consider that a lunch date. That was a complete waste of my time.”

“I thought you assumed he was you secret admirer.”

“Mokuba has a better chance of being my secret admirer then Takashi does. Plus his handwriting is all wrong.”

“What makes you so certain the person who’s writing the notes is your secret admirer? Isn’t it possible he could be asking someone else to write them for him?”

“It is possible. Which is why I’m more frustrated as the days go by. If I don’t figure out who this is I will be very upset. As it is, one or more of my friends is probably in on it.”

“Why couldn’t this person be acting alone?”

“Locker combination.” Seto considered what Tristan said and took it in.

“I’m sure he’ll be more than willing to explain his actions as soon as he reveals himself.”

“Yeah, I just don’t know if I can coue tue to wait for that.”

“So who do you think it is? If it’s not Takashi like you thought?”

Tristan shrugged. “Who knows. Duke’s been acting strangely.”

“How so?”

“We were talking about the fact that Joey, Bakura, and Malik all placed bets in their classes as to who it was, and when Yugi asked Duke if he had Duke got offended and said that not only was it inappropriate to do such things but that he’d feel bad if he won. If that’s not an admission of guilt I don’t know what is.”

Seto said nothing. He was angry again.

“You don’t like Duke very much do you?” Tristan asked.

“Why wouldn’t I like him, Tristan?”

“I don’t know, I mean there was the morning he and Joey came with me to the hospital and you ignored him, and you guys have always been rivals. Between calling Joey puppy and Duel Monsters, you guys have a lot in common that you disagree on.”

“I thought we got along pretty well on Friday night.”

“You did. You got along with all my friends fairly well. I don’t know, I guess on Duke’s part he’s been trying to make an effort. Yugi yelled at him for being frustrated at your stubbornness and ever since Duke’s actually been pretty friendly towards you, Hell, every time I complain about you he reminds me of the good parts of your personality.”

“I don’t have any good parts, Tristan.” Seto pulled in front of the other teen’s house.

“Don’t be so dramatic.” Tristan smiled. “So, honestly, on a scale of 1-10, how much of a threat do you think my mystery admirer is?”

“Zero.”

“You’re lying.”

“I have no reason to lie. Nor do I have any reason to be afraid of this person. Life’s a big game. And I play to win. I hold all the cards, and if I come up losing than I manipulate a situation until I am the winner. If I were really trying to pursue a relationship with you it would happen. But I’ve told you what my intentions are. Besides, we’re over, aren’t we, Tristan?”

“People who are over don’t kiss, Seto.” Seto scoffed. “You keep leading me on.”

“I don’t see how. I’ve made it very clear that this is finished for us.”

“Yeah, okay.”

“Whatever, Tristan.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Then it’s your funeral, Tristan.”

“Excuse me?” Tristan was getting angry, but playfully angry.

“I’m not chasing after you Tristan. If you get your hopes up then don’t come crying to me that I’ve broken your heart. You broke your promise. It was your idea for this to be a sex thing. I was willing to deal with it as such.”

“Even as a sex thing, your telling me you would have been happy if I had slept with Ken Michio on Saturday night?”

“It’s your body and your life, and if you want to have a sexual relationship with that person that’s your choice.”

“You are so jealous. And I know Mokuba’s going to make you come see me on Saturday. You can cut the act.”

“There is no act. Tristan if you think I’m going to be telling off some guy and telling you you need to get with me then you’re going to be disappointed. This isn’t some talk show drama.” Tristan pushed him, annoyed.

“Violence solves nothing.” Tristan pushed him again, playfully.

“Tristan, this suit is probably worth more than your house, if I were you I’d stop.” Tristan smiled, still angry. He pushed Seto again.

Forcing Seto to grab his wrists.

“What do you think you’re doing, Tristan?”

“Provoking a response.”

~.~

An hour later Seto and Tristan were still going back forth, playfully arguing about everything from the identity of Tristan’s secret admirer to politics.

Tristan knew that this was just going to end with him having more heartache, but he was having fun flirting with the CEO.

Presently, Seto leaned in and kissed him again. Tristan was tired of being dominated and fought Seto, pressing him against his side of the car. Seto was a little surprised, but let Tristan lead the kiss… It wasn’t terribly bad to give up a little control for a moment.

“I feel bad for your secret admirer, Tristan,” Seto responded, once the kiss ended.

“Why’s that?”

“You’re meeting him in two days and here you are kissing the big bad wolf in his jag.” Tristan gave Seto a look.

“This is never going to work between us, is it? You don’t want a relationship with me. And you’re not going to chase after me. You’re going to let me meet him on Saturday and then that’s going to be it.”

“Tristan, don’t you want to be with someone who’s willing to do everything you want. Who’s not playing with your emotions?”

“Yeah, because all the guys in school lately are really concerned about my emotions.”

“I wasn’t talking about all the guys in school, Tristan.”

“Besides, Mokuba, I’d say there’s really nobody who’s shown me consistent love and support.”

“What about Duke? Everyone says you want it to be him.” Tristan and Seto exchanged a look.

“Who I think it is and who I want it to be are not necessarily the same person, Seto.”

Seto thought about that for a moment.

“I should go, it’s late. I’ll see you tomorrow in class.”

“Alright, goodnight Tristan.”

“Goodnight, Seto.”

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Tristan opened his locker, his stomach twisting in knots.

There was the rose, and the note. Tristan opened the note. It was short and sweet, revealing the location and the time he was to meet his tormenter.

“What’s it say,” Duke asked, walking up to Tristan.

Tristan answered him curtly then he folded the note back up and placed it in his book bag.

Duke gave Tristan a look.

Tristan had always handed Duke the notes before. It was almost as if Tristan believed that he already knew what the note said.

~.~

“So tomorrow, you’re finally going to meet him, you excited?” Joey asked. They were sitting in lunch.

“Yes,” Tristan answered.

“Have you told, Kaiba where you’re meeting him?” Yugi asked.

“We didn’t get a chance to talk in physics. You think I should? I have this feeling that he’s not going to care.”

“Come on, Tristan, if you don’t tell him then how will he show up tomorrow?” Duke asked. Tristan gave him a look. “Well, of course Mokuba could tell him.”

“That’s true. But I think it’d be better if you tell him, Tristan. And then that’s it. You can’t wait for him to get it together anymore. If he wants to play games then let him play with himself,” Ryou concluded.

“Play with himself?” Joey asked, laughing.

“Get your mind out of the trash, Joey,” Ryou teased.

“Seto said that when he plays games he always wins,” Tristan retorted.

“I guess he can put his money where his mouth is tomorrow then,” Yugcidecided. “I guess you don’t want us to come tomorrow? Yami said it would probably be inappropriate.”

“Well, the note didn’t say anything about making sure I was alone. If you guys want to come you can, it doesn’t matter to me. Whoever this person is, they’re going to have to learn to deal with you guys anyway.”

“Of course you know that there will probably be a bunch of other fishy people showing up too,” Ryou said. “Bakura thinks you should expect a couple of imposters.”

“I suppose you guys should be there to help me weed out the wannabes then,” Tristan decided. Duke gave Tristan a look but said nothing.

~.~

Tristan couldn’t figure out where Seto was in Japanese Literature. And he wasn’t going over to watch Mokuba after school because Seto said he’d be home. Maybe that was it then. Seto had left school early and went into work. That way he could spend the afternoon with Mokuba.

By the time Tristan got home from school he was convinced that Mokuba had already been informed as to where Tristan was supposed to be meeting Seto. Of course Tristan knew if if he really wanted Seto to show up tomorrow afternoon he would call Seto and speak with him personally.

But he didn’t.

Maybe it was better this way.

How long could he allow his heart to be toyed with? Didn’t Seto tell him that he should be with someone who wasn’t going to hurt him like this?

And besides, if the great, powerful, Seto Kaiba was interested then he’d do whatever necessary to come tomorrow, despite all the rest of it.

It was over.

Really over.
orroorrow Tristan would face the music. And this chapter with Seto would either be over or a new one would be beginning.

By tomorrow evening Seto and him would no longer be playing this game, sitting in the in between.

He would get his absolution.

Even if it was painful.

~.~

Mokuba and Seto had spent a quiet afternoon at home, playing video games. They had talked about Tristan’s meeting for five minutes before Seto changed the subject.

Only after Mokuba was sleeping soundly in his bed did Seto allow thoughts of Tristan to come back to his mind.

He had kissed Tristan yesterday.

And tomorrow he could lose him for good.

It was a weird place to be.

It seemed like forever ago, they were sharing seven minutes. And tan tan had spoken those now infamous six words.

Because I’m in love with you.

Those six words had haunted Seto since the second Tristan had uttered them, they had swam in and out of his thoughts and surfaced to his consciousness again and again.

And those six words had dictated every thought and action Seto had dealt with since.

And tomorrow… those six words could find themselves archived away for good.

This game would be over…

Once Tristan finally discovered who his secret admirer was, this would be out of his hands.

Who was he kidding, he had lost control the moment those words came along and ruined everything.

They all expected him to show tomorrow.

Yugi, Mokuba, Joey, Malik….

Well, he certainly wouldn’t disappoint them.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

“Where are you going?” Mokuba asked. He pushed the display button on the remote control to see what time it was.

It was noon.

“I’m going into the office for a couple of hours.”

“Alright, Seto.” Mokuba said nothing else. Time would soon tell. If Seto wanted to be an idiot and not show up to meet Tristan’s secret admirer then he didn’t deserve him.

~.~

“Where did Tristan say he was going?” Joey asked, eating tortilla chips.

“To buy you salsa, baby,” Ryou answered.

“No, I know that. I wondered if he said where he was getting the salsa. He left at like twenty after and he’s still not back.”

“I’m sure he just needed to get out and clear his head. He took his motorcycle, you know how he likes to ride it when he gets wound up,” Mai explained.

“What time is it anyway?” Yugi asked.

Duke looked at the clock on the stove. “Quarter to 1.”

“I’m sure he’ll be back any minute, he probably just needed to be alone for a little bit, Joey,” Yami explained.

“That’s fine. But he could have at least come back with the salsa first.”

~.~

Tristan sat uncomfortably on the park bench. He waited anxiously, not sure he was really ready for this. He smoothed out his shirt, angry at his appearance. I should have worn the green shirt…damn it. It was much too late for that now, he was in the park waiting for his secret admirer to show up, whatever happened was already out of his control. He checked his watch again. It was exactly 1pm. He would be here any second. Unless of course this was a cruel joke or something. This whole time he had acted like it didn’t matter either way, but now as he sat impatiently on the bench he had to wonder if this was all going to end badly…

“If I didn’t know any better I’d guess you were waiting for someone, Tristan.” tan’tan’s heart stopped at the sound of that familiar voice. He turned and looked at Seto Kaiba.

“What are you doing here?”

“I went to Kaiba Corp today, thought I’d take a break, this park is only a block away, so I often come here to walk and clear my head.”

“Why do I have a hard time believing what you just told me, Seto?” Seto smirked. “What are you really doing here?”

“I suppose my curiosity got the better of me.”

“Oh, that’s all? Mokuba and you have a talk last night and you thought you’d pop by and see what was happening?”

“Something like that.” Seto looked around. “So where is he?”

“That’s what I was wondering.”

There was a moment of silence. Both teens calculating their next moves.

“I wonder, Tristan, how will you know it’s him?”

“What do you mean?” Blue met hazel.

“When he comes, how will you know it’s really your secret admirer?”

“He’ll be holding the last rose.”

“With that logic any person could come along holding a rose claiming to be him. If I had of known it was that simple I would have brought a rose.” Tristan narrowed his eyes. “There has to be something more to it.”

“No, there really isn’t. I guess I should have accounted for that though. You’re right any person could come by with a rose in his hand.”

Seto looked around again. They were completely alone in this area of the park. “What time was he supposed to be meeting you here, Mokuba didn’t tell me that part.”

“1pm.”

“About the time I showed up.” Seto checked his watch. “This isn’t a very good first impression. It’s five after, he’s late.”

Tristan looked back up into blue eyes.

“No he’s not, Seto.”

Seto’s eyes narrowed.

“Why don’t you take the rose out of your coat and hand it to me. I know you want to.”

Tristan was right.

He did want to.

Seto opened his trench coat, Tristan’s breath hitched in his throat and Seto pulled out the prest rose ose he’d ever see in his entire life. It was delicate, and gorgeous, nearly as gorgeous as the teen holding it.

There wasn’t a movement between them for a minute. But neither broke eye contact.

“How’d you know?” Seto asked finally, still not moving. He wasn’t sure if he was even still breathing anymore.

“You were right, Seto. Anybody could have easily shown up with a rose, pretending to be my secret admirer. So I told all my friends and everyone else that I was supposed to meet him at my house at 2. It’s a decoy location. That way the only person who’d be meeting me here, at 1, would have to be my secret admirer. You.”

Seto swallowed hard.

“I never got the chance to tell you where I was meeting him. And I knew that Mokuba would most likely supply you with the wrong rendezvous point. But I take it you didn’t speak to Mokuba last night about this. Or at the very least you lied to him and told him that I told you where I was meeting this mystery person.”

“So you knew it was me the moment I walked up to you.”

“Yes.”

“And you said nothing?”

“Come now, Seto. You tortured me for over a week, I hardly think that my delay was in any way equivalent.”

“You’d be surprised, Tristan.” Tristan blushed.

“Well, Seto, even though I knew it was you the moment you showed up it wasn’t like this comes as a complete shock. Deep down I always knew who it was.”

“I thought you thought it was Duke.”

“I wanted it to be you.”

Seto’s eyes dropped.

Tristan stood up, practically trembling at the moment.

“I was looking at your jealousy completely wrong. You never worried about who the secret admirer was, you weren’t threatened by him because you were him. You weren’t really jealous, as much as you were angry because I never considered you as a suspect. You weren’t worried that it was Duke, you were worried that I wanted to be him. You were mad that other guys were capitalizing on your romantic gesture by coming up to me and trying to woo me. It was all so obvious that I missed it.”

“Indeed.”

“Hell, you practically told me you were my secret admirer that night in your car. How you manipulate situations and hold all the cards. And I just didn’t get it. And of course, what better way to eliminate yourself as a suspect then by mentioning yourself by name in those notes?”

Seto nodded.

“Oh, and of course there was the fact that the roses started on a Tuesday. I never thought about that, until now… why not Monday, why Tuesday? Monday I swallowed all my pride and reconciled with you, despite what happened Saturday in your bedroom. You must have been impressed that I loved you and Mokuba enough to put my own feelings of being rejected aside. I saw the look on your face, you were surprised I’d want to come back over and take care of the two of you after the way things went down.”

“You’re right, Tristan.”

“You were overwhelmed. You must have doubted yourself for letting me go. I bet you wagered you’d have to do something pretty amazing to win me back, especially with the way you rejected me. You refused to tell me you loved me and if had had of simply said you did the next time we were alone you risked the chance of me being bitter about the whole thing and doing the same thing to you. So you decided to show me that you loved me.”

“Right, again, Tristan.”

“So Monday night you came up with this little plan. The plan’s perfect, you set out romancing me, while in the meantime you can get to know me slowly. That way there can actually be something else between us besides sex. And if all goes well then, look at that… what a surprise… this romantic Romeo turns out to be you all along. It’s ingenious really. And I should have known from day one. I guess I was too afraid that if I believed there would be something between us then I’d only get myself hurt again.”

It had to be this It It wouldn’t have been as sweet if he had figured out it was Seto after the second or third rose.

Tristan was regaining some of his composure. “Please, Seto. Say something. Say anything.”

“I don’t know what’s left to say, Tristan.”

“Just don’t let this be a dream,” Tristan half whispered, walking towards the other brunet.

Seto looked back at him. “If this is a dream then maybe fate will be kind and I’ll die in my sleep.”

“Three questions, Seto,” Tristan began, trying to keep himself together.

He had to get through this.

“Ask them.”

This entire thing was nerve-wracking.

Seto was an emotional mess, whatever mask he had tried to put up had dissolved, his feelings were exposed.

“Which one of my friends did you get to help you?”

“You already know the answer to that question, Tristan. You always did.”
istaistan looked at the other brunet.

He was right.

“Who wrote the notes?”

“My secretary. I dictated them to her.”

Tristan nodded. This was all falling perfectly into place.

“Last question. Why the park? Why not the first place we met, or the hospital, or your house, or my house?”

“I was waiting for you to ask me that.” Seto looked around again. “I guess it was kind of symbolism.”

“Explain.”

“There are all these paths in a park, Tristan. Leading to the swing sets and the paddleboats and other paths. And I was on my path, and that was fine wme. me. I knew where I was, before I got to know you. And then, after I did… I found myself walking off the path. And before I knew it I was on the grass, jumping over shrubs… It was ridiculous. And I was afraid of that. Very afraid of that. But telling you the truth and admitting my feelings, I found myself back on a new path, and even though I don’t know where this one will lead, I’d rather be here then where I was.” Tristan nodded silently. “Anyway, you get the point, I think I’ve beat that metaphor to death.”

Tristan was truly overwhelmed…

Enamored by this other boy.

He wasn’t sure what to say.

He had never known it was possible to feel such emotions, such indescribable emotions. He had told Mokuba the warning signs of being in love… but this… this was something completely different. A horse of a different color.

“I never handed this to you,” Seto said, reading the look in the other’s eyes.

Tristan had hoped he wouldn’t fall apart… but he was… this was too much. He took the flower, his hand gently brushing Seto’s.

A thousand sensations ran through his body.

“This is the most romantic, loving thing anyone’s ever thought to do for me.” Tristan was practically in tears now. He didn’t want to cry, he didn’t want to feel this way.

“I’m no good at being romantic, Tristan. At least not long term, anyway.” Tristan looked up into blue eyes.

“I guess that’s something we’ll have to work on then.”

“We?” Tristan nodded.

“We.”

Seto said nothing, looking into Tristan’s eyes, nothing else in the entire world mattered at the moment.

Nothing.

“Will you let me take care of you, Seto?” Tristan asked, leaning closer.

“Only if you let me love you.”

Tristan smiled.

“Isn’t this the part where we go off… happily ever after?” Tristan asked.

“There’s supposed to be a kiss first.” Seto took the initiative and captured Tristan’s lips. Seto found himself tumbling… falling… it was almost like drowning… The kiss deepened, Seto was gentle and loving and relishing in tasting Tristan again for the first time. It broke.

“I love you, Tristan.”

That did it for Tristan. He did start to cry.

“I know, Seto. I love you too.”

~.~

“Where the Hell is he, it’s been a long ass time, what he do, go to Mexico to get the salsa?” Bakura asked, getting frustrated.

“He went to meet Kaiba in the park,” Duke answered.

“What?” Yugi asked.

“He went to meet Kaiba in the park,” Duke repeated.

“Why would he do that? His secret admirer will be here at 2,” Joey grumbled.

“Kaiba’s his secret admirer and he went to meet him at 1.”

“How could you possibly know that, Duke?” Mai asked.

“So Kaiba asked you to help him, did he?” Yami asked, impressed.

“Slow it up, I’m completely lost,” Joey grumbled.

“You say that like it’s not a regular thing, Joey,” Bakura teased.

“Shut up!”

“Kaiba approached me Monday evening. He had decided that maybe things between Tristan and him could go somewhere, but he realized he had really messed things up by being so harsh to on on Saturday so he asked me for my help.”

“So you gave him Joey’s locker combination,” Yugi asked.

“I didn’t know what he was planning and I didn’t want it to be something that was only going to upset Tristan more so I told him if he wanted my help he’d have to tell me what he was up to, otherwise he could do it by himself.”

“You put the roses in Tristan’s locker yourself,” Ryou thought.

“A few of the days I did, some days Kaiba did it. Depended on whether or not he stopped by my house after work.”

“I get it, while we were watching Mokuba, waiting for Kaiba to come home you two were plotting for the following day,” Malik figured.

“I can’t believe you kept this from us, Duke,” Joey added.

“I promised Kaiba I wouldn’t say anything, besides, after hearing how upset Tristan was over the phone on Sunday I was more than willing to do something to ease his pain.”

“That would explain why you kept reminding Tristan that Kaiba was a good guy,” Yugi decided.

“You know, when Tristan finds out you really were responsible for all this he’s not going to be happy with you, Duke,” Mai reminded him. “Of course since it’s after 1:30 and Tristan’s not back yet, I guess it’s safe to assume that things went well.”

~.~

There hadn’t been much talk on the way back to Seto’s house. Mokuba had headed to Tristan’s house so they were alone in the mansion. Tristan wasn’t sure what he wanted, but once they arrived Seto was up the stairs and in his room quickly.

“So what, you say you love me and I’m just supposed to lay down and let you fuck me? Where is this going to go, Seto, isre gre going to be an actual relationship here or is this going to be a repeat of before…”

Tristan was slammed into the door as Seto attacked him with kisses. Tristan forced Seto away.

“This is what caused the problem the last time. Too much physical attraction.”

“There’s no such thing as too much physical attraction, Tristan.” Tristan wasn’t amused.

He had so many questions. Was it really necessary for them to just hop into bed right at the moment? After all, Seto had certainly had a bad way of showing Tristan that he loved him up until this point.

“You’re worried about my intentions. You wonder if I’m sincere,” Seto began, jolting the other from his thoughts. “You’re hesitant about what will happen between us.”

“Something like that.”

“Would you let me prove it to you? My love for you?”

“By doing what?” Tristan asked. Seto gave him a simple look.

“You’ve been taking good care of me, Tristan. I trust you completely. I want you to take care of me again.”

“Meaning what? Spit it out, stop speaking in codes.”

“Take me.”

“What?”

Seto couldn’t be serious.

“Take me. I’ll submit to you.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Because I want to show you that I love you, Tristan. And don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it.”

Tristan shuddered.

Thought about it… if he thought about it anymore he’d forget to go to school in the morning.

“Just like that, you’re going to spread your legs for me?”

“You don’t have to say it in such a vulgar manner.” Tristan smiled. “Look, I know there’s a million questions you have about the roses and the notes and me, but right now, this moment…I just want to…I want to be with you…”
f thf that’s the way you want it. So be it.”

Tristan walked over to Seto and grabbed his lips. The kiss was fierce. The thought of Seto, Seto Kaiba, submitting to him like this. It was overwhelming, and a complete turn on… He was going to enjoy himself. Seto moaned into his mouth. Tristan knew this was going to be a good afternoon.

When the kiss was over Tristan began pressing against Seto. Seto kept walking back, finally hitting the bed with his legs. Tristan pushed him. In one smooth, fluid motion he got Seto on his back and straddled him. With another smooth movement he shed his jacket and shirt, exposing him. He bent down and began suckling his left nipple in his mouth, letting his tongue circle the tender flesh before fiercely sucking the nub into painful erectness. Seto could only moan as Tristan repeated the calculated process over again.

Just when Seto thought his poor nipple couldn’t stand it anymore, he began a third time. “Ah, ah, Tristan,” he cried, making an almost inhuman sound. His manhood had already begun to pulsate as Tristan finally moved to Seto’s other side, making sure to pay equal attention to his right nipple.

He rubbed his fingers through the CEO’s auburn hair, Seto arching his back up towards him as he circulated his nipple for the last time. Seto had never known anything could feel so amazing. He was already lost in the sheer pleasure as Tristan began to pull his clothing off all together. He smiled at the taller brunet as he began kissing him again, massaging their tongues together, exploring Seto’s mouth.

Seto was leaning towards him, sitting up, also running his hands through the other’s hair. Tristan continued the exploration. Seto tried to take over the kiss, probing deeper and deeper until Tristan had to break for air. “Easy, Seto, all in good time.” Seto panted as Tristan laid him down again, and started to claim his neck once more. The teen billionaire moannce nce again, and Tristan began working his way down, trailing sloppy wet kisses to the other’s lower abdomen.

Tristan stopped at his naval, looking up long enough to notice Seto biting his bottom lip. He doesn’t want to cry out. Seto won’t have a choice soon. He gently spread his legs apart, Seto’s penis already damp with anticipation. He placed a finger at his opening, not probing just yet. “You haven’t done this before have you?” Seto opened his eyes, and shot him a look. “Just asking.” He kissed his inner thigh tenderly, and Seto relaxed again.

He worked his way excruciatingly slow as he kissed his way up towards his final destination. Just before reaching his ultimate goal he began working his way back down Seto’s leg. Then he repeated the painfully grueling procedure on the other thigh. Then with a smug grin on his face, Tristan gave Seto’s cock a teasing lick. Seto whimpered a little.

So Tristan did it again.

Seto wasn’t sure how much more he could take. He grabbed Tristan’s hair tightly, pulling him closer.

Why had he suggested this?

Why had he agreed to this?

Was he crazy?

“Come on, Tristan, stop fucking around.” Seto’s breath had gotten thicker, his voice laced with lust. Tristan bent down, and started to suck continuously. Sucking the same area he had twice teased with his licks. Seto unconsciously arched towards him as he twisted his tongue in all the right places. Tristan’s tongue wet the straining skin before journeying down to Seto’s hole.

That caught Seto completely off guard. He moaned harder as Tristan squeezed into his tightness. “Like that, Seto?”

“Fuck you, Tristan.”

“Uh uh, you’re bottoming, remember.” Seto growled.

Tristan decided he’d go back to what he was doing and slid his tongue back up to the base of Seto’s cock. He added kisses and licks to his ministrations, swallowing the pre-cum that was leaking. Seto began bucking his hips, his hands having a firm grip on the other brunet’s hair.

“Tristan, oh Gods, yes. Don’t stop, I. . . ah. . .,” his words trailing off at his orgasm.

Tristan swallowed Seto’s passion and looked up, with a smirk. “Someone’s pretty excited this afternoon aren’t they? Coming a little prematurely?”

“Shut the fuck up.”

“I think I want to taste you again, Seto.” Tristan began his labor of love a second time, giving up on the teasing and opting to just deep throat the blue-eyed beauty writhing underneath him. He didn’t stop, his tongue tormenting him until he could feel Seto orgasm again.

“Tristan. . .” he could barely speak. Seto could feel tears of absolute pleasure well up in his eyes. Why wouldn’t he just take him, this was torture. Tristan was enjoying torturing him, wasn’t he? He certainly looked smug. . .

Seto watched as Tristan dug around an nightstand drawer and pulled out hand lotion. He squeezed out a dollop and rubbed his fingers together.

There was an almost frightening look on his face.

Was this payback from the last time they had done this?

Was Tristan trying to return the favor?

Before Seto could continue analyzing the situation Tristan slipped a slick finger inside of him.

“What the fuck…”

“You’re pretty damn tight, Seto. Which is ironic, cause I always thought of you as anal retentive.”

“I swear to God, Tristan, if you don’t hurry this along you’re going to regret it.” Tristan twisted his finger, finding the hidden treasure buried inside the other.

“Tristan…. Shit...”

Tristan fought the burning urge to finally finish what he had started. He wanted to draw Seto’s passion out, but with each cry of his name his erection got more unbearable, the pre-cum oozing out steadily. But he wanted to take it slowly; he had too. He sat up a little, watching Seto squirming.

He smiled again, as he slowly let a second digit slip inside of the CEO. Seto moaned again. Before long though, Seto began moving in rhythm as the fingers moved in and out of him. Once he seemed completely used to the pressure, Tristan carefully added a third finger. Seto was really turned on. He didn’t know how much longer he could hold out. His pre-cum had begun to pool on the bed, tingling sensations running the whole length of his shaft.

Seto worked himself slowly, but deliberately on Tristan’s three fingers, keeping the same steady pace as he added the 4th. “You like this, Seto, huh?” Seto could only whimper in response. He was in ecstasy, moving his body faster with Tristan’s thrusts. Tristan stuck his fingers even deeper. As deep as he could get them as Seto pumped harder.

He felt like Tristan’s whore.

And he needed more of this.

“You’re enjoying my fingers, aren’t you?” Seto whined again. Tristan bent down, trailing a kiss to his earlobe; then leaned in and whispered, “this exc by by my hand, just wait until I get the rest inside.”

His comment sent Seto wild, he was already close the edge again. Tristan pulled his fingers out. Watching captivated as Seto bucked again in the air, involuntarily. “I’d say you’re ready. I don’t think prostitutes get this excited.” Seto was exhausted, and nothing had really happened yet, hell his body still ached.

Tristan casually slipped some of the lotion onto himself, that same smug look on his face. This had been a bad idea. Seto knew that now. Tristan was going to slaughter him. He panted rapidly as he watched Tristan position himself at his entrance.

“Tristan,” he gasped, reaching his hand to the other’s hard on. Shots of gratification raced through the shorter teen’s body. He pushed Seto’s hand away. Seto grabbed him again, pulling him again. Tristan forced his hand away once more, this time swiftly pinning Seto’s arms above his head with one of his hands.

“I’ll have none of that from you, Seto.”

“Asshole.”

Tristan rubbed the tip at his tender entry. Teasing him again, poking him. Each time he backed up he sent chills up Seto’s body.

“Tristan, please.”

“Please?”

“I need you to.”

“Need me to what? You have to tell me what you want.” He took his free hand and began agitating Seto’s flesh again with his index finger.

“Inside, please, you have to be inside.” His words were slurring, he could barely see, whiteness had blinded him.

“I don’t know if I should, Seto.”

“Do it, take me, right now.”

He poked his finger inside. Seto screamed in delight, his body writhing. “Seto, are you sure? Do you truly want this?”

Seto squirmed, trying desperately to get free. This was complete agony. “Yes, yes. You stupid prick, do it right now.”

That was all he needed to hear. He pushed part of himself inside. Then drew back out. He pushed a little further in the second time, once again pulling back out. He was teasing him again. Tristan was truly enjoying this. He repeated the process until with one solid thrust he was inside of him.

Seto winced at the pain, but it was nothing like he had feared. And before he could think about it it had dissipated and pleasure replaced it. Tristan’s pace was unhurried; once again he wanted to draw out the sensation inside of the other. He pulled almost completely out before gradually working his way back inside to the hilt. He continued to do this, keeping a perpetual tempo. Their hand positions shifted. Seto was holding Tristan’s hand, squeezing it softly to reassure him that he wanted this, wanted him.

“This feels, shit… it’s good, Tris”
”

Tristan grabbed Seto’s neglected erection.

“You’re so fucking tight, Seto…”

“Don’t stop… harder.”

Tristan eyes bore into him as he continued; Seto leaned up and kissed him aggressively. He could tell by Tristan’s facial expression that he was becoming more excited by it. Tristan’s control was incredible.

He had never imagined letting someone take him like this… but this was…

It felt good…

“Oh gods, more… Tristan…shit, more.”

Seto could only make small gasping sounds as he felt his body respond to Tristan’s presence. Before long it was working, he felt herself climaxing slowly, as he continued. Tristan was pumping him frantically… he was really letting himself go… he was actually doing this…

And enjoying it…

A lot.

Faster, he has to go faster, his body demanded. Tristan could tell by the look on the other’s face that he wouldn’t be able to hold it for too much longer. He increased his rhythm, Seto’s body responded. Seto began pushing back into him, meeting each thrust with one of his own. Tristan began kissing his neck again, in the same manner he had claimed it as his earlier.

“I’m going to come…Tristan…”

“Come…it’s okay…. go ahead, do it…”

It didn’t take much more. He was having another orgasm, Tristan could feel Seto’s muscles become even tighter. Slick white seed spilling into his fist…

He couldn’t control himself anymore. Tristan was about to come apart. It was all he could do to increase his speed again, trying to hold on to the very end. As pleasure hit him he got a moment of clarity and pulled out releasing on Seto’s stomach. His arms gave out and he collapsed on top of his lover, too weak to move.

~.~

“So?” Tristan asked.

“So.”

They had finally woken up, it was after 5 and they were cleaning themselves up from their earlier encounter.

“Can I ask you something, Seto?” Tristan asked, giving Seto a look.

“Yes.”

“What makes you think this will work between us? I mean, I don’t really know all that much about you.”

“I don’t see why it wouldn’t work, we have the important stuff in common,” Seto answered, handing Tristan a towel.

“What important stuff?”

“Sex.”

“Sex? That’s it?”

“And a concern for Mokuba.”

“And?”

“And what, I think that’s all we need right now. Your heart has had time to heal and yet here you are sitting naked as a jaybird on my bed. I’d say that pretty much covers it.”

“Oh, so I’m supposed to be satisfied?”

“Yes.”

Tristan sighed, mockingly.

“And I love, yo, you happy now?”

“Yes.” Seto kissed him. “So are we going to try to live happily ever after or what?”

“I’d settle for mostly happily ever after, Tristan.”

Tristan smiled. He fingered the twelfth rose in his hands. “Yeah, mostly happily ever after works for me.”


Author’s Endnotes: Hum…. It’s over… all over… what a painfully long chapter… didn’t think it was going to be that long… But the epilogue is like a fraction of the length. I’ll post it tomorrow when I return from work. It should clear up any lingering questions…So? It’s done… and? What are the reactions… Were you surprised it was Seto all along? Do you have an urge to go back and check to see if there were clues? It’s true… even when Seto was fighting and having some inner monologue he never grumbled about it being Duke. He grumbled that Tristan thought it was Duke. A small technicality. But a big deal nonetheless… Seto’s attitude certainly shifted between Monday and Tuesday… Anyway… There will be some flashbacks in the epilogue… some Seto/Duke stuff… kind of explaining Seto’s little plot. So, review… I know… it would have been cute if it were Mokuba… but I tht wht when writing the story it’d be too obvious… which I guess I was right about seeing as how people were guessing that it was Mokuba… Anyway… until the epilogue… Thanks for reading this… What the epilogue looks like:


"Wait a minute, you're asking me to help you with Tristan?" Duke frowned. "You're kidding me right?"

"No. Now are you going to help me or not?"

"I'm confused. Just Saturday you told Tristan you weren't in love with him."

"I r sar said I wasn't in love with him, I just told him that just because Yami said I was didn't make it true."

"Oh, big difference."

"I'm getting really sick of your bullshit, are you going to help me or not?"

Duke looked at Seto for a while. This was crazy. Seto Kaiba actually asking him for help? Maybe Yami had been right all along, maybe he really did love Tristan. He had to, otherwise, Duke didn't see the CEO coming along like this...