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Thrice Perfection	By : NihilEtNemo Category: Yu-Gi-Oh > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 1646 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own YuGiOh!, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 2
- 3
~~oOo~~

Thrice Perfection

response to
Relinquished�s challenge
I don�t own Seto,
Yami, Ryou, or YuGiOh.

~~oOo~~

The cold moonlight glinted off the sleek silver car
sitting on the asphalt, running off it like liquid silver. Ryou wondered idly who
would leave such an obviously expensive car sitting in the public parking lot
all night, even if it was protected� Sometimes, people could be extremely cruel
for no reason. Even if they couldn�t steal it, they would probably destroy it.

The shadows fell
over his face as he stepped under the trees, and he put the car out of his
mind. People around here wouldn�t be that mean� Someone obviously spent a lot
of money on that car. They wouldn�t just destroy it out of spite � unless it
was someone like his yami�

His
sneaker-clad feet made no sound in the long grass as he socks became soaked by
the beginnings of the dew on the blades, and he could hear a nightingale sing
its lonely song somewhere deep in the park. He had to smile a little at it. It
was just so peaceful out here.

His pace
slowed as the edge of the trees approached, and the end of the shadows
concealing him. The moonlight played off the surface of the dark pond, greeting
him happily, welcoming him to the end of his journey. Silhouetted in the moonlight
was the one who had called him here, spiked hair standing out against he
shining ribbon of light. A flutter of nervousness assaulted his stomach. Why
did Yami want him here? And Seto Kaiba, too?

The spirit
looked around at him and only looked at him for a moment. The peaceful silence
suddenly became oppressive as the dark gaze wandered over him, seeming in no
way malicious, but almost too intense.

�Yami?� he
asked quietly to lift the weight of the silence from them both.

�Hello, Ryou,�
Yami said to him, his voice hushed appropriately. He relaxed a little as the
reassuring tone of his voice soothed whatever residual anxiety he had
accumulated. �I�m glad you came.�

�Bakura didn�t
want to let me,� he admitted, stepping forward, nearer the other, �but I
promised I�d be back soon��

Yami only
smiled a little, an almost frightening thing. Too knowing, as though he already
had information that would make him a liar� or something�

�Kaiba�s not
here yet?� he asked quietly, taking his mind for the scary smile.

�No, not yet.
It�s still a little early yet, though. He�ll be right on time.� How could he
manage to sound so sure of it? Seto Kaiba was not as easily predictable as he
made it seem� He�d been trying for years, but he always managed to be surprised
by something Seto did. He had levels of depth that he himself couldn�t even
fathom.

He only
watched Yami for a moment. He seemed so� confident. Not unsure of himself at
all, right now. It was almost as though he already knew how this was going to turn
out, impossible as that was�

�Do you love
your yami?�

The sudden
question startled him, as much by its content as its abruptness. �Yami�?� he
asked blankly. Did he love his yami?

Yami�s dark
voice pressed on. �Do you love Bakura? I have to know� I won�t go any further
if you do. I have no right to try to part you from someone who makes you
happy.� He still didn�t look at him, however, only watching the moonlight on the
water. Did the question even mean anything to him?

His own eyes
flowed downward, out over the water, joining his companion�s gaze. Was it even
possible he had understood that right? It sounded as though he meant to try to
take him from yami if he said no�

�Love�� he
repeated slowly. Should he tell him he did? Should he lie�? He didn�t want to be
parted from Bakura�

�No� I don�t
love him,� he finally admitted, his eyes raising to the moon level with his
eyes, out across the water, so close he could have touched it. �I feel very
fond of him� I feel like I am sometimes the only one who understands him� but I
don�t love him. I think he wants me to.� Now that he had told him, was Yami
going to try to separate them? Was he worried about him? He shouldn�t be�
Bakura could be mean sometimes, but he was really a nice guy at heart.

Yami glanced
at him, and he found himself blushing under his gaze. Why he was blushing, he
couldn�t have said. It didn�t matter; there was no one to witness his reaction
save the moon and his companion�

�It�s all
right,� he told him quietly. �You don�t have to return someone�s feelings.
Anyone would be happy with only your friendship, hikaru. No, more; they would
count themselves lucky.�

He smiled a
little, willing his blush away. Yami smiled back, looking away again. As though
that pearly moon was more important than this conversation. Somehow, that
attitude was reassuring, almost like it didn�t matter at all what they said, so
there was no need to be embarrassed of it.

Loud footsteps swished through the grass,
breaking the calmness around them, announcing the owner�s presence to the
world. Kaiba was here�

�Yami?� The
rich voice tried to be demanding, but he could hear the question, the
uncertainty. He needed reassurance.

He looked
toward the brunet stepping through the trees, pausing just inside the shadows. There
was no reassurance he could give, but it mattered not at all; his eyes were
focused on Yami.

The darkness
in the light turned to look at him, smiling reassuringly toward him He had
heard the same note of uncertainty. �Hello, Seto. I was hoping you wouldn�t
change your mind.� His voice was layered with confidence and soothing calmness,
telling the other that it was all right.

�Why?� The
belligerence in his voice covered his hurt very well� almost completely, in
fact. �Should I have?� He was worried.

Ryou glanced
toward Yami. Should he be worried? Should either of them? What was Yami
playing? He hadn�t told either of them anything� It sounded like Kaiba hadn�t
even known that there would be anyone here save himself and he who had called
them.

�No, I don�t
think so,� the spirit told him calmly, and Ryou felt himself calm at the sound
of his voice. �Why don�t you come out here in the light with the rest of us?�
He gestured minutely with one arm.

He resisted
the urge to nod. He felt vaguely uncomfortable with Kaiba hiding in the shadows,
ready to bolt; it set him on edge, undoing all the calm that Yami sowed with
his gentle words.

There was a
brief moment of hesitation. His face was invisible, hidden in the darkness, but
he was weighing his options. How large of a surrender it would be to do as he
was asked. Finally, he must have concluded that it was acceptable, because he
stepped forward exactly two medium paces and stood in the light. Even now,
though, he was hiding behind darkness, his dark hair, dark clothes, dark eyes.
Everything except for the skin he couldn�t hide was dark, trying to conceal his
true nature� whatever that may have been. And those dark eyes were focused on
him, almost accusingly. As though he were ruining something.

�What am I
here for?� he finally demanded, his eyes leaving Ryou and sliding back toward
Yami. The hikari�s eyes followed; he wanted to know very much the same thing. Yami
must have a reason�

�I only wanted
to talk to you,� Yami said soothingly. �Both of you.� He turned back to the
pond, letting the cheerful light dance over his face. He glanced back at Kaiba,
curious as to how he was taking Yami�s attitude. His indifference. His face was
still unreadable, though.

�Then get on
with it. I have somewhere to be.� If he had somewhere to be, then why had he
even come? He was only nervous. It was obvious.

�I will,� Yami
said uncaringly. �In a moment. Isn�t the night perfect?�

The light
glanced around. Actually� it was. Even with Kaiba�s interruption, the beautiful
stillness of the night prevailed. How could anyone be sad or anxious with the
moon and the breeze and the birds and insects all trying to cheer them up?

�I think you
know why you�re here, Seto,� Yami said easily, still facing the water. It was
obvious to Ryou as he observed that he didn�t, in fact� that he was confused
and nervous. When had he switched to Kaiba�s first name? And why didn�t he seem
to care? He was notoriously proper�

Was there something
going on here that he wasn�t privy to? He glanced back toward the water with a
sigh to let them talk; obviously there was. It was all right, but he wondered
why he was here at all, then.

Yami�s words
didn�t wait for a response. �I know about your memories. I�m not sure if you
remember what this should remind you of just yet, but I think you do.�

Memories? Ryou
glanced back toward them. Was he talking about� Egypt? Was this something that
had transpired between them in their past life together? But wasn�t Kaiba
completely set on denying his ancient past?

�Then why is
he here?� the words almost seemed to fall from Kaiba�s mouth without any regard
to Ryou�s presence, unconsciously echoing the hikari�s private thought of a few
seconds before.

And he sounded�
almost afraid. Not even nervous or wary any longer, but afraid and in serious
need of reassurance. Whatever was happening, couldn�t Yami see that Kaiba
needed him to help him accept it? He was just playing with them, and it was
taking its toll on the fragile brunet�

Fragile? When
had he started thinking that?

And still Yami
didn�t go to him, like he was sure he had to. He only smiled, which was really
rather cruel of him. �Don�t worry, Seto. No one is being replaced.�

He saw the relief
and embarrassment wash over him, and a quick glance at him. Probably to see if
he noticed his emotions. He offered a tiny smile to him, but Kaiba only looked
away.

But he still
didn�t understand. �Yami�?� he asked quietly. He didn�t want to break into
their conversation, but it seemed, that since he was a part of it as well� �Can
you tell me�?�

Yami nodded
slightly, and he was relieved that he wasn�t angry. �My apologies,� he said,
and turned so that he could see them both. It seemed that, whatever business
had driven him to call them both, it was time to get down to it.

And yet he
still spoke only to Kaiba. �Do you remember, Seto?�

There was
hesitation on the brunet�s part, and he watched him carefully. He wasn�t sure�

�Yes�� he said
hesitantly, then continued marginally more confidently. �Yes, I remember. You
brought my to the river and told me you loved me��

So it was an
Egyptian memory after all. The Pharaoh and the Priest� they�d been in love�

�You remember.
Furthermore, you accept what you remember. You aren�t trying to deny it, or
drive yourself insane rather than face it.� He sounded pleased, nearly proud.
As though he had been grooming Kaiba for this, and he had learned. He supposed,
in a way, that was the truth. All that had happened with Yugi and the heart of the
cards, and everything that had happened that he refused to believe, had been
preparing him to accept the important things�

Kaiba said
nothing, though. For a moment, their eyes nearly met as they inspected each
other. He wasn�t sure how Kaiba was taking this; his face was unreadable.

�I still love
you, Seto.�

The admission
didn�t seem to affect Seto like it should have. His face turned stony,
completely impassive.

�And I still
want you.�

This time he
almost looked like it caused him physical pain to hear it. Couldn�t Yami see
that? Why was he doing this to him? He realized it was supposed to be a kind
gesture, but he obviously couldn�t handle it, for some reason�

And even so�
What was Ryou doing here? He looked away from them. This should have been intensely
private� Why had Yami invited him as well? It was probably his presence that
was paining Kaiba like it was. He didn�t belong here, that was obvious. He should
just go home to Bakura.

He took a step
backward, silently, intending to leave them alone. It wasn�t his place to stay.
They needed to be alone to work this out. The shadows under the trees welcomed
him into themselves, wrapping around him, the silence claiming his as its own.

�I want you
both.�

The world
froze. There was no longer any breeze to ruffle the hair of the three standing
at the edge of the cold lake. There were no longer any comforting birds or
insects to reassure them that everything would be all right. There was just
cold silence.

Ryou finally
turned around to look at Yami. He� wanted� him? Him?

�Yami?� he
asked, unsure. Did he mean it?

�I�m serious,�
he said gently. �I love you both. There isn�t anything not to love about either
of you. You�re perfect� Will you have me?�

The silence
was pregnant with expectation, the world holding its breath, awaiting an
answer. Any answer. But what could he say? Did he love Yami? Did he really want
to leave Bakura How would they take it?

He only nodded
dumbly. He couldn�t answer� his tongue was stuck in his throat. Yami wanted him�

A noise in the
grass drew his attention. Seto was already walking back into the trees, away
from them, away from what Yami was asking of him. He hadn�t answered, but it
seemed that that was his answer. In that moment, he�d forgotten, but Yami didn�t
want him� he wanted them.

�Kaiba?� he
asked. �Kaiba, are you all right?�

�Seto!� Yami
called. His confidence was shaken; maybe this wasn�t the way it had gone in
Egypt, but now Seto was running away, and he wasn�t as sure of himself anymore.

Seto � Kaiba �
turned to look over his shoulder. His voice was cold. �You don�t need me here.
And as I said, I have somewhere to be.�

Yami was
frozen to his spot, staring at he picturesque view of this night as it crumbled
away in the wind of Seto�s hurtful� hurting� words, watching him walk away. He
was just going to let him escape�

He couldn�t
allow that. He couldn�t allow them both to hurt so badly. His feet in the grass
were still silent as he ran after Seto and took his arm, pulling him back.

�Seto, please,
don�t go,� he said, his voice soft, pleading gently. �You�re wrong; Yami does
need you.�

Seto looked
back at Yami almost as though forced. He was standing there on the edge of the pond,
backlit by the reflected moonlight, just staring at them. His entire posture
was so sad� couldn�t Seto see it?

He still
refused to say anything, turning his face again. No, he was running again�

�And I� I don�t
want you to go,� he said. He was just so vulnerable� Yami hurt him without
realizing it, but he wasn�t going to let them see, he was just going to run
away and hide his pain and let it eat him up inside. He�d regret it forever�

�I don�t
belong here.� Seto�s expressionless words fell flatly on the silence, the note
of finality almost painful. �Go back to him. Have a great life. You deserve
each other.� He tried to pull his arm away again to leave.

Yami�s voice
finally rang out as Ryou�s grip slipped. �Seto! Please, don�t go� I need you��

The tall
shadow stopped and only stared at the ground, refusing to look at either of
them. �No, you don�t,� he said quietly. �You have each other. Neither of you
needs me. Why would you? A light and a dark� you go together perfectly. What
could you possibly need with me? What else could you need?�

The pain in
his voice was obvious to Ryou� he nearly wanted to cry just hearing it. How
could one person hurt so much and try to deny it? And why would he deny himself
this chance to be happy?

�All of those
wonderful shades of grey in between,� Yami said quietly. �I meant it. You�re
perfect, both of you, just as you are.� He found himself looking back at Yami,
even though Seto still refused to. The moonlight fell on his silhouette, making
him seem dark and mysterious� exactly as he was. �Ryou, you are the light� the
beautiful purity neither of us can ever have. You�re so good, and bright; I can�t
help but love you.�

He found
himself blushing, and he stepped away as yami stepped up to Seto. Finally, he
was doing what he should have done before � he was telling Seto exactly how he
felt.

�And you, Seto�
You aren�t light, you aren�t darkness. You�re precisely everything in between.
We need you as much as we need each other. The world isn�t black and white�� He
took Seto�s face in his hands and made him meet his eyes, inspecting the other�s
face. Ryou wondered what he saw there� did he see only the sullen defiance? Or
did he see the pain?

He kissed Seto
gently, and Ryou smiled as he saw the way Seto let him, melting into his touch.
He relented� he allowed himself to be persuaded.

Yami smiled as
he released Seto and looked around him at Ryou, extending a hand. The hikari
smiled serenely and stepped forward to take it, pulled into a warm embrace. He
took Seto�s slender hand in his other and pulled him closer to them both, not
letting him escape this time. Yami loved him, and he was determined to do the
same, whether he wanted it or not.

Yami looked
back out of the trees, toward the water. The moonlight sparkled reassuringly on
its surface, celebrating their triumph, their happiness. He smiled to himself
and rested his head against Seto, refusing to release him. It was simply�
perfect.

~~oOo~~
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Thrice Perfection

Thrice Perfection