Domination

Sorry about the huge delay. Hope you enjoy this chapter!

Domination: Chapter 9
The sun didn’t seem to shine anymore. Despite the fact that it was early summer, thick grey clouds always seemed to be obscuring that brilliant light, casting a gloomy shadow over the city of Domino, a shadow that had been ever present for almost an entire week now. Even the wildlife appeared to be subdued, sensing something ominous on the light breezes that ruffled their skins and snatched at the puffs of blossoms delicately placed on young trees.

It was in fact to the north of the island where this disturbance of ambiance was focussed, an aura of violence and hostility radiating from two beings and impacting this reality and that of the Shadow Realm. Two individuals, the roles of hunter and hunted blurred at best, having meandered up from the opposite end of the island, had reached their final destination of battle and the conflict raged on.

A great surge flared in one of the beings, a massive assimilation of power from the reality composed entirely of nightmarish things that was then expelled at his opponent in this one. It missed, narrowly, dispensing injury rather than mortality, although it’s enough to send the attacked running to recover and regroup. However, the assailant in this instance refused to renounce that easily, and the chase began again.

****

The huge panes of glass were streaked in white and beiges, great rays from the morning sun piercing through the gaps between the nearby buildings and trees to strike the Game Shop directly. A few minutes ago the glass had practically glowed with pinks and oranges as the sun broke the horizon, the darkness preceding dusk still present and battling against the pastel-coloured light.

The empty mug in Yami’s hands was stone cold now from his neglect to refill it, his unnaturally thin fingers still and cold themselves about it. Blinking sluggishly, the thought that the colours across the windows would be gone entirely soon flittered across the Game King’s mind and the realisation brought him out of his daze long enough to unclasp his stiff fingers from about the mug and place it as his side. He contemplated getting up to watch it properly from the window, but the stiffness in his legs renounced that idea for him. He could watch it properly the next time he was up at this hour.

When he’d first come into the shop, Yami had believed that he would spend the hours until the house and shop respectively were bustling and noisy going over and analysing the conversation he had just had with his Hikari. Instead he had merely slipped into a numb stupor, something he had a nasty habit of doing several times during the day if he’d neglected himself for too long. As if reminded of how he’d been treating it recently, Yami’s stomach clenched uncomfortably with a loud grumble.

Blindly pressing his now free hand to it, Yami considered fixing himself some breakfast, but discarded the idea immediately at the swell of impending nausea that struck him. He was too tired to eat. He could try to sleep again later, when everyone had seen him for a satisfactory length of time and let him slip off on his own. Yugi would keep tabs on him even then, but his Hikari’s mind was hardly intrusive and so he considered that to be inclusive in his meaning of ‘alone’.

Choosing to plan his sleeping hours later, Yami closed his eyes so as to try and force the Puzzle into alleviating the throbbing headache that was currently residing in his temples. t wat was quite a strange thing about the Puzzle; it would heal up wounds that he had inflicted to himself at an impressive speed, but when it came to the symptoms of personal neglect it didn’t seem to be interested in helping at all.

At first Yami had believed that it was merely his control over his Item beginning to slip. He had wholeheartedly believed at the time that his grip on reality was starting to slip as well, so to him it had been a feasible option. But now it just seemed like the Puzzle was sentient, or perhaps working from his subconscious. He didn’t really care about any of that; his only bother with it was that he had to work extremely hard just to coax the Item into taking the edge off of his headache or to quieting his stomach when it had been empty too long.

Yami was still concentrating intently on doing this, his breathing slow and deliberate, when a light touch to his shoulder made him jerk violently. The hand was removed immediately and Yami saw with wide eyes that Sugoroku had taken a step back from him so as to grant him his space, his expression apologetic as he stood there silently. Yami smiled humourlessly at his own surprise and lack of attention, subtly ignoring the increase in the tempo of his headache, to show that it was fine and that no apology was needed.

His somewhat adopted grandfather appeared relieved, glancing about himself for a moment before locating the soft-bristled broom leaning against the wall behind Yami. Collecting it, Sugoroku appeared to ignore Yami as he began to sweep the shop floor, an entirely unnecessary action, as it was still pristine from the night before. It eased Yami though, attention diverted from him willingly which allowed him to sit and muse to his heart’s content.

A part of him hoped that Sugoroku would speak to him though. They had had a somewhat awkward conversation during the ride home from the hospital. Yami could barely remember it, his thoughts having been so sporadic at the time. He guessed that it must have been words of comfort more than anything else, reassurance and affirmations of love doubtlessly mixed in. He didn’t really care anymore. Everything comfort-related had become a coined-phrase from overuse over the last year and a bit. No, what he wanted was to actually talk to the older man, as he and Yugi had a few hours ago. Sugoroku was the only adult he trusted, and he suspected that he might have some advice or insightt not no one else could have. Or maybe he was just hoping for too much. Either way, Yami was extremely reluctant to be the one that began the conversation. He didn’t quite fancy going out on that ledge just yet.

“Well it looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day,” Sugoroku announced, seemingly to himself as his back was to Yami as he stood at the window facing the rising sun, the broom still now as it stood vertical beside him. The smears of colour had finally been shedshed entirely from the glass, the curved panes as clear as the pale sky. Sugoroku turned to facmi smi slightly as he spoke again, his words slow and deliberate. “It’s a shame that you’ll be inside all day.”

Yami was actually mildly impressed that he’d been so forward about that. Everyone else had turned a blind eye to his willing imprisonment within the house, apparently seeing the action as acceptable given everything that had happened merely a few days ago. Even Yugi was not questioning it. Yami was well aware that he couldn’t hide from the world forever, but as everyone was letting him at the moment he was going to damn well take advantage of the opportunity. Sugoroku didn’t seem to see it that way, and before Yami could come up with a suitable response he had resumed speaking, his gaze returning to the outside.

“But I suppose it will give you a chance to catch up with your sleep,” he said evenly, his voice not belaying what tly tly he thought about that. Making a soft noise to himself in his throat, Sugoroku jumped the broom up a few inches so that it was now held a little way off the floor, walking purposefully back past Yami and into the house.

Quirking a brow at the display, Yami gave a small, slightly confused smile that dissolved into a frown as the skin beneath the thick bandages began to itch. He shouldn’t scratch it, that he knew perfectly well, but the sensation was already grating at him. Wrapping his good hand about the area where it was worst, he squeezed firmly, hoping that the pressure would alleviate his growing discomfort. It didn’t. In fact it appeared to just get worse.

Closing his eyes again, he tried again to focus the Puzzle’s energies to sort out whatever was happening. Yami sighed a little when he found that despite being able to do so, it had absolutely no effect. Apparently his Item wouldn’t work to dispel irritancies that were steadily driving him to distraction. He had half a mind to fill up thnk ank and dip his arm into it to see if that would help. Changing the bandages would be an inconvenience, but he was positive that it d bed be worth it.

“Yami?”

Ceasing his efforts, Yami opened his eyes and felt the creases in his forehead smoothening out as he watched Sugoroku offer a china teacup to him. Taking it with both hands, not trusting his trembling fingers enough to risk the cup with just one hand, he noted that the liquid inside was of a much clearer colour thoffeoffee. It also smelt different; fresher.

“You shouldn’t drink so much coffee; it’s bad for you. There’s plenty of herbal tea in the cupboards now if you want a hot drink.”

Nodding slightly, Yami stared into the sap-coloured, translucent liquid, enjoying the sensation of the warmth from it drifting across his face. He doubted that he’d stop drinking coffee entirely. He savoured the few hours of awareness each caffeine-laden cup granted him, and it was the most robust flavour he could stomach at the moment. He’d consider this new beverage though, perhaps not as an alternative, but certainly as a supplement to his diet.

Feeling his gut work silently again, Yami took a sip of the tea, hoping that by putting at least something in his stomach it would quiet it. He was wrong. Apparently it just made it worse. Sugoroku’s brows rose minutely at the sound whilst Yami kept his eyes on his tea.

“I think you’re hungry, Yami,” the elder Motou pointed out when Yami continued to show no signs that he had even heard the sound in the first place. The spirit’s mouth quirked a little at the obviousness of the statement, before another thought crossed his mind.

Sugoroku had displayed a surprising amount of knowledge about his Puzzle in the past –it had been he who gave Yugi the pieces in the first place after all, so perhaps he would have some idea as to why his Item was stubbornly refusing to help him at the moment. His mounting frustration with the powerful trinket only meant that he couldn’t think clearly of why it was doing this, and so his only option was to turn to an outside source. He certainly couldn’t let Yugi know about his little problem.

His Hikari would likely work himself into a worried little frenzy over the fact that Yami was having trouble both sleep and eating, despite the fact that the evidence to this was obvious. It had come to Yami’s understanding, however, that people don’t see what they don’t want to see.

“Grandpa?” Yami finally called, his mouth working awkwardly around the word. He still wasn’t used to calling the older man by that title. Sugoroku appeared moments later though, sans a broom as he stood in front of Yami, waiting for him to continue.

“I have a headache from not being able to sleep which has done little to make me want to eat anything, so my stomach is, noisy, but the Puzzle isn’t doing anything to help this. Do you have any idea why that is?” Yami asked cautiously. Although doubting that he would, Yami hoped that Sugoroku wouldn’t launch into a lecture about how he needed to eat and sleep. He simply wasn’t in the mood for that right now.

Apparently no such intention had crossed Sugoroku’s mind. His brow furrowed for a moment before he answered as if it were quite obvious. “Your body is naturally telling you that it needs food and rest, and as the Puzzle is in charge of your well-being, it’s going to let it, and I doubt that it will simply let you turn off those signals. I’m afraid you’re just going to have to live with it like the rest of us, or eat something instead.”

His question answered, Yami made a noise in his throat to show that he understood before his attention snapped to the windows where he had seen a large shape out of the corner of his vision. He had been ready to stand and his stomach had clenched uncomfortably at the tht tht that it was Yami Malik, returning for him with or without Bakura in tow. His body eased little when he realised what the dark mass really was.

It was a limousine, sleek and black with all its windows up and darkened, allowing no inkling of who was inside. Not that Yami needed to guess. He knew who, for some reason that he couldn’t even begin to fathom, was visiting, and the thought made his lip curl.

Sliding off of the cabinet leaving his cup on it, he strode out of the shop and back into the house at the back, only pausing at the doorway when Sugoroku called out to him. “You should go upstairs and put some clothes on Yami. I don’t think he’s here to talk to me.”

Jaw clenched, Yami did as he was bid, although he had no inclination of going back downstairs. He remembered with crystal clarity his last meeting with Kaiba, and he was happy enough to have that as the last memory he ever had of the CEO. Kaiba had pushed him that day, caused him to break down in front of everyone for no reason and Yami resented him vehemently for it.

Still, despite that he had consented when Yugi wanted to take the tape to Kaiba, the tape that Yami Malik had somehow obtained and then proceeded to torment him with. The billionaire had the resources to at least attempt to find the, at the time unknown, sender of the object, and so his services had been utilised. He wouldn’t let Yugi just send it though, when that rhe ohe obvious risk of Kaiba being able to actually watch the tape should his curiosity get the better of him. Bakura had gone along for just that reason, assuring Yami that the CEO didn’t see anything except numbers when he returned with the tape later that day. That had put Yami at ease a little. He didn’t want to even think of what Kaiba would do if he saw it.

Stalking into the darkened bedroom where everyone was still sleeping soundly, he collected up the first shirt and pair of trousers that he found and returned to the hallway, shutting the door behind him. Carrying the bundle along to the bathroom, he locked the door and set about changing. The baggy, beige-coloured trousers he found, to his dismay, were Joey’s, but he found they were wearable if he just tightened the belt. He didn’t particularly want to return to the room and seek out his own clothes. The shirt was his own, and he stood over the sink as he turned the sleeves out the right way as it dangled in the sink, glancing up into the mirror as he did so.

He hadn’t actually looked at himself in a mirror in a long time. It hadn’t been through avoidance; he simply hadn’t bothered, and now he was mildly surprised at his own appearance. Leaning forward, Yami noted that he was paler now, his face thinner and his alrestrostrong cheekbones even more pronounced. Darkness framed his eyes and there was a general tiredness permeating his being. It took a few moments for him to gather up the courage to look below his neck, and it was a bittersweet moment when he did. As he did his hands fell still in their fumbling.

The scar on his shoulder had faded minutely. It was still a harsh contrast to his skin, but it no longer resembled a bad and slightly raised burn. Ignoring the barely perceptible protrusions about his sides, Yami’s gaze drifted to his arms. His right was looking better than ever; the shallowest of the lacerations gradually turning silver although the deeper ones remained quite obvious.

His left was a mess; that he knew even though it was securely encased in gauze, the fresh lesions crisscrossing exactly over those he had gradually inflicted to himself over time. Part of him wanted to remove the bandages, to see if it was as bad as his imagination was making it, but the other part, the stronger one, wanted the bandages left where they were so he wouldn’t have to see.

“Yami, could you come down?”

Jumping despite himself at Sugoroku’s voice from downstairs, Yami tore his eyes from the mirror and jerked the shirt over his head. Leaving the pyjamas hanging over the edge of the bath, he made his way at his own pace back down the stairs and into the Shop. Finding no one there, he glanced behind him to see Sugoroku and Kaiba watching him through the doorway of the living room acrthe the hallway.

Approaching slowly, he stopped when he was just outside the room, crossing his arms and allowing his discontent with Kaiba’s presence to show on his face. There was no fear of the taller teen this time; he was far too angry to feel that. Kaiba didn’t look particularly pleased to be standing there either.

Either ignorant of the tension or simply ignoring it, Sugoroku clapped his hands together and looked from one to the other. “Well, I’ll leave you two in here to talk. I’ll be in the shop if anyone needs me.” Stepping out behind Yami, he waited until the spirit had reluctantly stepped into the room before closing the door. Yami half expected to hear a bolt slide behind him as he stood staring resolutely at Kaiba.

The CEO was wearing his dark blue coat, its elaborately structured shape winding around his lean form and spilling out in a wide flare about his ankles. For some reason that Yami couldn’t figure ad had his usual silver case with him. It was obviously heavy, and Kaiba appeared intent on staying for a considerable amount of time, for he walked a few paces away from Yami to deposit it at the end of the sofa before facing him again, still standing.

“Why are you here?” Yami asked finally, seeing that Kaiba wasn’t likely to be the one starting this discussion, or whatever this little meeting turned into. He was conscious of the fact that his tone was a lot less aggressive than he int intended it to be, tiredness giving his words a sluggish inflection.

Kaiba looked uncomfortable in a way that suggested that he was starting to reconsider ever coming here. There was a resolution in his eyes though, and even thought the muscles in his face tightened as he spoke, he got the words out. “I came to say that I’m sorry.”

Yami could only blink at that. To him, Kaiba uttering the word ‘sorry’ or any variant of it was as likely as Joey wining the Miss World contest. His mind was so scrambled by the shock of it that he couldn’t think of what Kaiba was apologising for. Seeing Yami’s wholly understandable confusion, Kaiba continued agitatedly.

“For last time. After Bakura ran off with you, Yugi told us everything. Well, enough at least. I shouldn’t have treated you like that. If I’d have known, I’d…” He trailed off somewhat helplessly, and it was obvious by his expression that words failing him was not something that he was accustomed

“‘If I’d have known’ you’d what?” Yami demanded, anger surging unexpectedly. He felt insulted by that latter comment, and although he had no clear idea why, he was still damn well going to retaliate.

“You’d have been nice? Used a soft voice and kind words, assured me that everything’s will be okay? If you came here with the intention of starting that then you can leave now because you’d be wasting your time. I hear that enough around here and I neither want nor need it from you. It’s suffocating as it is.”

Kaiba was glaring now, taking a large step forward without realising he was doing so, naturally using his advantage of height and stature to attempt to intimidate Yami into backing down. Now barely a foot remained between them. He caught himself before he could go too far though; his head dipping and his eyes going to one side as he reigned in his anger with obvious effort.

Mentally, he conceded that he would have probably had a similar reaction if their positions were reversed. He could forgive that. However, when he did fly sly speak his words were tight. “No, I would have treated you exactly the same as I always have. I just wouldn’t have laid a hand on you or tried to get a rise out of you. I take no pleasure in your misery.”

Yami snorted, crossing his arms more firmly across his chest then he usually would, ignoring the coldness inside Kaiba’s shadow as he blocked out the dseepseeping in from behind him. “What would you know about misery?” It was a challenge; a hollow one, but still a challenge. Yami certainly didn’t want to have any form of conversation with Kaiba, especially not when he was feeling this run down. He was hoping that if he aggravated the other enough he would just leave of his own accord.

However Kaiba was as stubborn as he was, and he had come here with his own agenda in mind, and no matter how much he despised it, he had no intention of leaving until he had accomplished it. At Yami’s question he merely narrowed his eyes, showing that he wasn’t going to rise to that one. “Enlighten me.”

“It’s none of your concern.”

“You look like shit.”

Yami had to quirk a brow at the bluntness of the insult. Kaiba was usually far more elaborate in his criticism of him. It had caught him off guard and so sarcasm was the best he could come up with in response to it. “Thanks.”

Not wanting Kaiba this close to him anymore, Yami moved around him so that he was standing next to the silver case on the floor. The gap between them was a narrow one now, his feet planted between the low coffee table and the sofa. Kaiba faced him but remained where he was. His expression was stony but his eyes held something a bit more complex; a mixture of frustration, anger and concern.

“I’m serious. I’ve never seen you this thin, you obviously haven’t slept over the last few days and I’m more than a little suspicious about what that bandage is hiding. I’m no expert of this type of thing, but I’d of thought that you’d be at least a little better off than before.”

Yami stopped clenching his jaw when it started to hurt, his eyes still focussed intently on the area of carpet between Kaiba’s boots. He hated that his rival on and off the duelling platform could see all of this so clearly, but he hated more that Kaiba believed he had given into temptation and hurt himself again. He didn’t want Kaiba believing that; for some reason it was important to him that he didn’t. “I haven’t… I didn’t do this, not this time,” he spoke, not making any motion to indicate what he was talking about. It was obvious.

Kaiba looked sceptical, not that Yami saw, but waited for the spirit to elaborate all the same. He had honestly believed that Yami would do something like that again, especially considering the contents of the tape. That was one of the reasons he had put off this visit. He didn’t want to get involved in the messy aftermath of such an action. That and the fact that whenever he had called to try and make this apology as impersonally as possible he had either been told that Yami was in no fit state for it, or simply told where to go and how to get there by one of the group.

Weeks ago they had been eager for his help though, Bakura delivering a mysterious tape and then standing over his shoulder as he probed every square inch of it, ensuring that the video screen in front of Kaiba remained blank of all things aside from numerical data. However, the Tomb Raider had no solid knowledge of his equipment, and he was able to casually press the correct button right under the spirit’s nose.

He naturally made a copy of the tape; there was no way he was simply going to check for anomalies on something that was obviously important without satisfying his curiosity of what was on it. Bakura seemed very edgy about it, and at the time he was positively intrigued as to what it was about such a simple item that could have such an impact on the thief.

When he actually saw the contents he partially wished he hadn’t been interested enough to make a copy of it. He had idly noted that the tape wasn’t rewound when it was delivered to him, the images being played over two hours into cassette. Somehow he doubted Bakura knew what had been recorded previously. Still, he had watched the entire thing through with as much of a clinical detachment as he could manage, despite it turning his stomach and making him wish he could kill Kresha again. He’d hit ‘mute’ when it had started to become too much though. He was human.

However, he also possessed the intelligence of a shrewd businessman, and he knew all about exploiting opportunities to their maximum. He figured that whoever had sent the tape had intended to inflict harm Yam Yami, and he also figured that there was no reason that they should stop at that. So he had conducted his own investigation during the sparse hours of spare time at his disposal. The internet had many uses, and distribution of this sort of material was disturbingly common. However, he had found direct access to exactly the same material on the tape on the website for the current duelling tournament. Anyone could see it. It had taken him several hours and a lot of work from some of the most advanced computers in existence, but he had taken the material down.

Aside from certain psychologically sick individuals and whoever had sent the tape in the first place, Kaiba figured that no one else had even attempted to watch it all. However, to gain an understanding of it and Yami’s situation, he believed that he should do so. Although, he wasn’t quite sure of why he even wanted an understanding. It might have been down to the fact that he looked after Mokuba; paternal instincts and a need to protect. That and the fact that he believed no one should be submitted to this sort of thing. He didn’t like seeing Yami in the state that he was in, and wanted to help somehow. Before seeing the tape he didn’t really have a clue as to what he could do, but afterwards, when the horror of it could truly sink in, a few things began to click in his mind.

But before he could do anything he needed to put Yami into some semblance of the correct state of mind to accept whatever help he could offer. There was a lot of hostility between them and so some of that needed to be smoothed over before he could proceed. Hence his rather mangled attempt at an apology.

Right now, Yami didn’t appear to want to expand upon his answer as to who had made the need for the new bandages. Hell, if he couldn’t talk about what the coarse material was hiding then there was no way that he would be able to talk about the tape’s contests, all three hours of it. Despite his efforts, Kaiba’s patience was beginning to run thin. He simply wasn’t used to this sort of thing. “Who did it then?”

Dubious as to Kaiba’s interest, Yami was still relieved that he was being so straightforward about this. It was a change from the attention he had been receiving recently, aside from Sugoroku who was an enigma in himself. It was like having Bakura back. “Yami Malik,” he answered after a moment, lifting his head now to gauge the CEO’s reaction.

Kaiba’s brow crinkled in confusion at that. “I didn’t know he was still sulking around Japan. What’s he got to do with any of this?”

“He’s the one that sent me that tape; the one that Bakura brought to you to inspect a few weeks ago.”

The brunette’s index finger raised slightly even though his entire arm was lax at his side. It was his own signal to remain quiet whilst he thought, a small sign that he was only aware of making half the time. Kaiba was reed fed for his intelligence and for good reason. Yami’s answer allowed him to understand a lot of what he had been puzzling over recently, but it also raised questions.

If Yami Malik had indeed paid Yami a visit, then where was he now? What could drive the blond psycho away when he was obviously fixated on this? Or had he left of his own accord and was simply lying in wait, ready to return when he felt particularly homicidal. Heck, he could be fiddling with the lock on the backdoor whilst they were stood there!

Driven only by his own curiosity, Kaiba relaxed his hand again. “I think you’d ought to tell me what’s been going on since I last saw you.”

And so Yami did. He told Kaiba, in a calm, detached voice, what had been going on since he last saw him. It was as if he were speaking about another person. He didn’t care, a complete turnabout to his intense feelings about Kaiba knowing about the new wounds on his arms. It was like some damn in his mind needed to break desperately and Kaiba was just the means to allow and contain the outburst. The CEO seemed oddly willing to listen, so he felt even more willing to spill.

Yami told him how Yami Malik broken into their home and his mind, how he had tormented his friends, and of how Bakura had forced him away and TombTomb Raider’s location as well as his prey’s was unknown. Yami told him how Honda and Anzu had been exiled from the group, how everyone was congregating in this small home like sheep for the slaughter, and how he was getting sick and tired of everything: of the concern, the sympathy, the pity, the aches, the burning and the feel of impending doom. Yami told him everything because he didn’t give a damn what Kaiba would think at this point, and there was no one else around right now who he felt that way about.

For his part, Kaiba listened. He didn’t interrupt or supply words when Yami struggled to find them, didn’t allow his expression to belay his mind’s turnings and didn’t offer comfort when the spirit, trembling and pale, had finished. Actually he was very tempted to put his arms around the smaller teen at the end of it, but he restrained himself. That didn’t stop him from making some sort of offer to try and ease the spirit’s torments.

“If you don’t think you’re safe here, I’d be happy to take you in with everyone else. There’s plenty of space available and I believe my security would keep Yami Malik at bay.” Kaiba had added that last part on as an afterthought, attempting to sway Yami’s decision as he could already see by his expression that he was going to decline. Sighing internally, he figured that that was down to Motou pride, or something to that effect.

If Yami was at all surprised by the kind offer he did not show it, his face impassive and tired. “Thank you, but we’re fine here.”

‘Fine’ didn’t fit as an acceptable response in Kaiba’s mind. He had come here with the intention of apologising, and he’d done that, but after hearing what had been happening recently… He couldn’t just leave Yami here aware of the ominous threat against him, he wouldn’t. He was perfectly aware of how dangerous Yami Malik was, and he wasn’t prepared to stand by whilst the psychotic maniac waltzed back in to do God-knows-what to Yami, especially after seeing the tape.

“Let me do something,” Kaiba practically growled, his words uncomfortably close to a plea although his tone was far from it. At Yami’s confused look, he clenched jaw jaw. He couldn’t let Yami know why he was so intent to help, that he had watched the horrors that he had been submitted to at Kresha’s hands. He couldn’t begin to speculate on how Yami would react to that knowledge, but he guessed that it would be a rather spectacular display of emotional fireworks.

Yami was staring at him now with narrowed eyes, his mind almost audible as it worked furiously to decipher Kaiba’s motives. At a loss, he settled for actually asking. “Why are you so keen to help?”

“I don’t want the situation to be made worse for you when you’re clearly at the end of your tether already. It’s bad enough that you’ve been through it, but Yami Malik’s will undoubtedly want to milk and exploit what happened as much as he can. He’s already done it once and I have no doubt that he’ll try to again.”

Kaiba hadn’t realized his mistake until the words had left him, and he cursed himself internally for the stupidity of it. Hoping that Yami wouldn’t pick up on his slip yet knowing that the duellist still had a sharp enough mind to have undoubtedly done so, the brunette waited silently for a response.

As the CEO had expected, Yami became motionless as his mind scurried over the speech and it’s inherent meanings. He thought aloud though. “You didn’t come here because of what happene me; me; Yugi told you weeks ago. You cold have said something before now, but you haven’t so much as shown your face until this morning. Something else brought you here, something that you haven’t told me. And what do you mean by being exploited *again*?”

Silence again as he continued to think and Kaiba realized that he was mentally bracing himself. Creases in Yami’s forehead appeared as his brows jumped slightly, and the spirit spoke to the carpet rather than the other teen, his words quiet as the truth sank in. “The tape, when Bakura brought it to you… You saw it.” The last three words were said to Kaiba though, darkened, crimson eyes fixing on cold blue as he spoke with a twinge of accusation.

Something snapped in Kaiba and his voice had raised before he had realised what he was doing. “You honestly thought I wouldn’t? Christ, Bakura comes to me with some damned mystery tape and tells me to ‘search for anomalies’ or some such crap, and you think that I would have just let it go without knowing what it was? Just how gullible are you?”

“So you copied the original? Or is someone handing them out in the street because a disturbing amount of people have seen it too,” Yami shouted back, completely forgetting that Sugoroku was likely still in earshot. Not that he would have cared. It felt good to get this off his chest. That last admittance somesomething that he hadn’t told Yugi, or anyone for that matter. Bakura had been there when the realisation that other duellists for a start had seen what had happened to him, and Bakura had been the only other person who knew about that realisation. Now Kaiba knew too. Disturbingly though, he seemed far less than shocked or surprise at the statement.

Kaiba felt a small degree of smugness in the deepest recesses of his being. He prided himself on holding information that others didn’t have over them. Although this wasn’t the right time or situation for such a feeling, he still felt some satisfaction in delivering a vital piece of information to Yami that he had been previously in the dark about. He felt like he had at least helped. His words held no less hostility though.

“Actually the whole damn thing was on the internet. Came with a program to download it and everything. Anyone could see it, but I took it apart so you don’t need to worry about that one anymore. I’m sure most people will think it’s some kind of sick forgery anyway.” Kaiba noted to himself that the complexity of it all suggested that Yami Malik had ‘convinced’ someone else to do this for him. The insane spirit was less than technologically versed.

Yami felt sick. Although grateful that Kaiba had taken the images down for him, he still would have rather lived in ignoraof iof it. He knew little about modern technology, but he knew enough to know what the internet was, and how many people had access to it. Suddenly he didn’t feel like shouting anymore.

“Leave,” he instructed quietly, tersely. He wanted nothing more than to be alone right now, but as he could hear the beginnings of movement upstairs he supposed that that would be impossible for now.

Ignoring the request, despite how the tone how torn at him, Kaiba worked his temper back down to something manageable and his voice to something humane. He didn’t feel that he should leave like this, with possibly even more hostility between them than before. “I made a copy, yes, but I don’t think any less of you after seeing it. It was enough to make me come here and apologise though, and to offer any help that I can. I gave you security last time; the camera is still in the shop and I can bring in another guard if you wish. If you want anything else, all you need do is ask. But for now..”

Trailing off awkwardly, Kaiba hesitated for a moment before he strode purposefully around the opposite side of the coffee table to Yami, stopping next to his silver briefcase before kneeling down to open it. Working the latches silently, he felt Yami’s gaze boring holes into his back but ignored the spirit subtly. Finally opening the case, he reached for the bundle of dark cloth in the corner, nestled against his cards and a portable projection unit, carefully placed so as not to be crushed. Standing slowly his eyes on the package the entire time, he reluctantly unwrapped it under Yami’s scrutinizing gaze. Judging by his posture and the light hue over his cheeks, he was quite embarrassed to be doing this.

Blinking with surprise at what was revealed, Yami tipped his head to the side slightly as he looked at it. It was a small soft toy cat; old with its polyester fur frayed and dull but obviously well loved. Barely filling Kaiba’s cupped hands, it was black save for the white patches on each paw, the end of the tail and over one beaded eye. The stoic CEO was holding its negligible weight as if it were something precious.

“This was Mokuba’s,” he began, still looking at the cat, partly just to avoid Yami’s eyes. “He used to carry it around everywhere, saying it looked after him. He gave it to me when I founded the company; he told me that I might need the help one day. It’s a comfort-device, and given everything that’s happening at the moment, I think you could use it.” Extending his hand he offered the toy to Yami, his eyes fixed on the spirit as he accepted it carefully.

“Thank you,” Yami replied softly, staring down at the stuffed toy, working his fingers gently into the still-soft fur. A thought occurred to him quite suddenly, and he couldn’t help but ask. “Does it have a name?”

“Mog.” Kaiba only seemed to have realised that he’d spoken after he’d said the word, and at Yami’s bemused expression he instantly back-peddled. “Mokuba named him, not me.”

“I’ll take good care of him,” Yami promised with a small smile.

Kaiba shifted his weight surreptitiously to his other foot, glancing around the room quickly before crossing his arms across his slender chest and staring down at Yami. “I’m going to want that back, you know. When you’re done with him though, so I don’t expect to see it again for a few years. Be careful with it; Mokuba will be extremely upset if it returns damaged.”

“I promise I’ll return him when everything is more or less manageable. Thank you again.”

Not wanting to accept yet another piece of gratitude from Yami, Kaiba nodded curtly in acceptance before kneeling back down to close his case. Locking the clasps and looping his fingers through the handle whilst he stood, he took one more studious look at Yami before looking to the door behind him. Yami saw that, and promptly turned sideways to let Kaiba past, watching his retreating back as he strode towards the door.

“Oh and Yami,” the CEO said, pausing with his hand resting on the handle. “If any of you come up with some sort of plan of vengeance against Yami Malik, let me know.”

Yami didn’t have time to answer that request as Kaiba strode out immediately afterwards, having the door open long enough to see that everyone save Sugoroku clustered at the door before he closed it again. Sighing to himself with an exasperated smile, Yami adjusted the cat in his hands so that he could hold it with just his right, quirking his brow at the creature as he quickly went ohow how he had gotten it.

Hearing Kaiba’s car pulling away and the anxious sounds coming from the people collected at the door, no doubt arguing in whispers whether or not to go inside, Yami took a large breath before walking to the door himself. Opening the door, he gave the suddenly-hushed group a decidedly pointed look before continuing through them into the kitchen. Yugi followed.

His Hikari started speaking almost the very instant that the kitchen door had closed behind them. “Yami, what was Kai-”

“Yugi,” Yami interrupted from where he was stood by the coffeemaker, debating whether or not to turn the appliance on. Looking over to his Light, he tried to keep his expression as non-threatening and non-potentially-hurtful as possible. “Kaiba and I just talked, and I’d rather keep that conversation just between the two of us. But don’t worry; nothing bad happened.”

Yugi seemed to war with how to react internally, falling silent for several seconds as his gaze fell to the floor. Finally he looked back up, is expression holding both confusion and a somewhat grudging acceptance. “Alright Yami, if that’s what you want.” Another long pause as Yugi appeared to ponder what to do next, and Yami decided that he wasn’t going to have coffee and started rummaging through the cupboards instead. “I’m going to go talk to Joey and Ryou then. Theye pre pretty worried.”

“Okay Aibou,” Yami replied thoughtlessly, having stumbled upon where the cereal had been relocated and looking through the different boxes dubiously. From the door Yugi quirked a brow at his actions. Seeing Yami looking for food wasn’t something that he was accustomed to. He smiled though with relief and happiness, feelinat pat perhaps Kaiba’s visit had indeed done some good.

Closing the door to the cereal cupboard as Yugi left, Yami opened the next. ing ing through the different items, he found several tins of soup. His stomach growling at him again, Yami resigned himself to actually going so far a loo looking at the different flavours before discarding the idea entirely.

After finding a flavour that he found particularly attractive, Yami set it down on the sideboard with his free hand. musemused that this could work out fairly well; it was liquid, the taste was promising, and it was food, which he should starting eating more of very soon. One glance at the instructions found that it was very easy to prepare as well.

Methodically running his thumb over Mog’s head as he thought, Yami finally nodded decisively before moving over to the saucepans. And later on, he had decided, he was going to get more soup.


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Be nice. Review and tell me your thoughts. Anyone care to take any guesses as to what’ll happen next?