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I Know You're Out There Somewhere	By : Firewing Category: Yu-Gi-Oh > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 3536 -:- 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
- 36
- 37
- 38
Chapter 37: The Rogue Tomb Robber

A/N: I seem to have forgotten to add a few notes when I posted Chapter 36. I wanted to mention that my beta has taken the time and energy to make some improvements to the first few chapters of this story, if anyone is interested in checking them out.
Starbunnie: The questions you had about chapter 35 are really good. The reason Pegasus and Yami don�t know that Bakura has the Eye is because he hasn�t ever used it or can�t use it. I�ve wondered about that in the anime, too. After Bakura takes it, it just seems to fall out of the Yugioh universe, at least through Battle City. I don�t follow the manga as well as I should and if I did, this would probably be a very different story. Pegasus is really cool and a lot stronger than most people realize the character is. No, he�s not always drunk�in fact, I don�t think he�s ever drunk in my story.

~*~*~*~

The sun was just beginning to clear the eastern horizon when Yami appeared at Yugi�s side, gazing down into the innocent childlike face of his lighter half. Yugi was his to protect, much as Seto protected Mokuba or Jou protected Serenity. In the same way, the love that he harboured for Yugi was that of an older brother towards his younger sibling, though it went far deeper due to their mental link.
Yami was about to call to Yugi when Mokuba turned in his sleep a few feet away. The cherub's rest was undisturbed, and Yami wanted it to remain that way. �Aibou�� he whispered, leaning in as close to Yugi as propriety allowed in order to avoid rousing Mokuba.
Yugi shifted and rolled away from the disturbance, determined that not even his yami would succeed in awakening him where the light of dawn had failed. A few none-too-gentle shakes later, though, and the childlike teen reluctantly opened his sleep-blurred lavender eyes, meeting the intent stare of his darker half's crimson orbs. �What is it, Yami?" he yawned, lowering his voice to a whisper upon remembering that Mokuba was sleeping not ten feet away. "We're on vacation, so you'd better have a good reason for getting me up this early." His hand groped around on the nightstand, nearly sending the lamp crashing to the floor before it closed around a tiny alarm clock. "Five-thirty? Make that an excellent reason."
The pharaoh rose, gesturing imperially for Yugi to follow him into the bathroom where he hoped they could speak privately. Once his grumbling light had joined him, he closed and locked the doors connecting the bathroom to the bedrooms. �We have a problem, Yugi," he began.
�That's nothing new." Yugi interrupted before splashing cold water over his face in an attempt to wake himself up completely. Though Yami seemed deadly serious about whatever was bothering him, Yugi couldn�t imagine what could possibly have gone so wrong during the night to warrant such gravity. Joey probably ate the last Pop-Tart or something...

�Bakura is evil.� Yami stated bluntly as Yugi dug the toothpaste out of the medicine cabinet, seemingly oblivious to his counterpart's shock. �We were in error to assume that the Millennium Ring had been cast aside. In truth, Bakura has been in possession of it all along.�
�But how is that possible, Yami?� Yugi turned to regard his darker side, brushing his teeth hastily so as not to hold off their conversation any longer than necessary. Every moment they wasted was another in which they could conceivably be interrupted.
�Aibou, have you not learned in the two years since our meeting that, with magic, anything is possible?� Yami sat down on the edge of the bathtub, balancing himself carefully. It wouldn't do to perpetrate an action as graceless as falling in while they were having a serious conversation, after all; the mood would be completely ruined.
Yugi spat the toothpaste into the constant stream of water pouring from the tap, filling a conveniently placed plastic cup from the same source, �But Ryou��
�Ryou has been locked out of his own body. Bakura�,� Yami nearly spat the name, �is�I don�t know any word vile enough to describe him.� The former king paced the length of the small bathroom in frustration, looking like a caged lion whose mane had had a bad experience with several bottles of hair dye, and Yugi pushed himself up on the counter between the twin sinks in order to stay out of his way. �I am almost certain he has exiled his light to the Shadow Realm, and there is no doubt that he will eventually come after us, Yugi. After all, we have the Puzzle." His fist slammed down against one of the sinks, and the sudden noise after the enforced silence made Yugi jump. "How could I have been so blind?! No... I must waste no more time on regret. I shall challenge him to a duel, and snatch the element of surprise from the vulture�s claws��
�Yami?� Yugi spoke up meekly, yet still managed to shatter his other half's fugue state. �Maybe you should wait until tonight. Pegasus wanted to duel, and that would give you the perfect opportunity.�
The agitated pharaoh calmed visibly, folding his arms as he thought Yugi's idea over. �Very well, aibou. We will do as you suggest.� With that, he vanished in a flash of light, and Yugi shook his head.
"There is no reason that couldn't have waited a few more hours," he sighed as he returned to the task of completing his morning ritual.
~*~*~*~
Serenity, Tea, Yugi, and Bakura joined Pegasus on the beach later in the morning. Croquet had been invited to join them, but had chosen to watch from the porch instead. Though the face behind his shades was completely inscrutable, his eyes in fact saw all, paying special attention to the white-haired thief that, at the moment, was far too close to his master for comfort.
Pegasus treated Bakura no differently than he did the other teens, but inwardly he was considering his options for confronting the wielder of the Ring. He truly did not want to reclaim the Millennium Eye; it had twisted and distorted his world, not to mention scarred him for life. Still, he was unsure that he would hesitate to take possession of it should the opportunity present itself.
Tea spent most of her time glancing furtively at Yugi, bashfully turning away and trying to concentrate on the outcropping of rocks she was drawing each time he happened to look up.
�Is something wrong, Tea?� Yugi finally asked her once this had been going on for the better part of an hour.
Tea set her sketchpad down with a heavy sigh. Though her every instinct was screaming that she couldn't tell Yugi what was bothering her, she couldn't lie to him. �I don�t know how to tell you this, Yugi,� she began uncertainly.
�Tell me what?� Yugi asked, concerned. It wasn't like Tea to be melodramatic; if something was affecting her this strongly, he knew that it had to be important.
�I couldn�t get to sleep last night, so I went for a walk on the beach,� she said.
�And?� Yugi prompted. He was getting more worried by the second; getting Tea to talk had never been so difficult.
�Yami met me out here�,� she hesitated just long enough to take a deep breath, �He kissed me and then he said that I could date both of you�� Her eyes found Yugi�s surprised and blushing face. �He didn�t tell you, did he?�
Yugi shook his head incredulously. �Back up a bit, Tea. What did you just say?� He was sure he had misheard her; though his darker side knew of his feelings for Tea, Yugi had made Yami promise that he wouldn't pursue anything without his light's permission.
�I told him that we needed to talk to you! What do you think I said?� Tea snapped, offended.
A sudden desire for reinforcements went off in Yugi's consciousness, so he called on the only entity whose presence seemed appropriate. /Yami? Would you please join us?/
A quick flash from the Millennium Puzzle, and the pharaoh was sitting on the sand beside his light, crimson eyes darting from Yugi to Tea and back again. "May I be of some assistance, aibou?"
�Have you been listening, Yami?� Yugi asked mildly.
�Listening? Oh, I see�� Yami was perplexed until he noticed Tea avoiding eye contact with them. This must be about last night.

�It�s okay, Yami,� Yugi told the spirit, his face set into a cheerful mask. In reality, he wanted nothing more than to wring Yami's neck. �I wish it weren't so draining for you to materialize. Then, you could go surfing with us this afternoon.� As much as Yugi would have loved to have the situation resolved right that minute, he didn't want to make Tea any more uncomfortable than she already was, and the only way he could think of to realize that goal was an abrupt subject change.
�Surfing? I�m not certain I would be entirely comfortable on such a vast body of water, Yugi.� Yami was even more eager than his other half to escape the confrontation, however necessary it might have been. Taking advantage of the very welcome topic change, he glanced out at the ocean, watching the waves roll in and out.
Tea scowled. How could they pretend that nothing had happened when she had spent most of her time since her encounter with Yami agonizing over the very issue that they were ignoring? �I don�t even know what I�m doing here!� she cried, snatching her sketchpad as she stood, �It�s obvious that you two don�t need me around!�
"Wait, Tea!" Yugi cried after her as she stormed off towards the beach house, but she didn't even turn around to acknowledge his call. His violet eyes nearly ablaze with frustration, Yugi snatched up his sketchpad.
"This is all your fault," he growled at Yami as he followed Tea, apprehension slowing his step.
~*~*~*~
Tea stomped up the sandy path to the beach house, her sandals slapping against concrete as she flung the screen door back savagely. How could they just play with her feelings like that? If they wanted a relationship, why not ask her like civilized people instead of kissing her and then ignoring the entire incident? Did they truly have so little respect for her?
She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she forgot to watch where she was going, and smacked Jou in the head with the kitchen door as a result. �Oh, Joey, are you all right? I�m so sorry!� Her anger was forgotten temporarily as her friend recovered from his momentary shock, rubbing his head slowly.
�I�m fine, Tea. You know my head�s thicker than that.� He was about to step aside to order to let her pass when he recognized her distress. "Hey, what's the matter?"
Tea responded by throwing herself into Joey�s arms, sobbing wildly, and that was how Seto found them when he walked into the kitchen, dragging his knuckles across his bloodshot eyes. He had been up long before anyone else and, having left Jou a note to meet him in the library, had gone right to work on his program. As he reached for the half-full coffee pot, his eyes met those of his lover, and Seto arched an eyebrow at the girl in Jou's arms.
�I�m such a fool, Joey,� Tea whimpered into the blond man's chest, unaware of Seto's gaze on her. �I really thought they liked me, but all they seem to want is each other.�
�Huh? Who?� Jou scratched his head, and Seto rolled his eyes.
�Yugi and Yami, Puppy,� he supplied around a sip of coffee, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. Tea spun, looking mortified that Seto had overheard, and the brunet took his cue to make a his exit.
Before Jou could say anything more, Yugi came in, looking embarrassed and flustered, �Tea, I�m sorry about what just happened. Could we go someplace and talk?�
She glanced up at Joey before nodding at the newcomer, following him into the living room as she wiped her eyes.
Feeling more than a little useless, Joey poured himself a glass of orange juice. �Kuba, have you seen Tristan? He was sleeping in the family room last I checked," he said to the boy nestled comfortably in the breakfast nook, unnoticed by anyone but his brother's boyfriend.
Mokuba frowned around a mouthful of pancakes. �Why was he sleeping in the family room in the first place?�
Memories of Bakura levitating several inches above the bed and what the conversation in his father�s room had revealed wormed their way into Jou's consciousness as Mokuba spoke, but he simply shrugged, �I don�t know. Why don�t you wake his lazy butt up and ask him?�
Mokuba grinned. �Okay.� Cramming the last bit of his breakfast into his mouth, he put his dishes in the sink and set off on his mission.
Free for the moment, Joey polished off his orange juice and went up to see Seto in the library. The genius dragon master looked up from his laptop as he came in, and Jou could see pieces of electronic equipment scattered across the room. What's he need that stuff for?

Oblivious to his dragon-pup's concerns, Seto rose and took Jou into his arms, hugging him around the waist.
�I don�t know if I can do this, Jou. It�s damned intricate,� he whispered into the sea of blond hair brushing his lips, experiencing a rare moment of self- doubt.
�What are you working on, Seto?� Joey asked bluntly. He had had enough patient waiting; he wanted to know what was so important that it was worth neglecting their vacation for.
Seto sighed. He knew that it was unfair to Jou to keep him in the dark about his project, especially when it was eating up so much of their leisure time. �Remember when you told me about Pegasus� journal? You said the reason behind everything he did was his desire to create a holographic body for your mother�s soul.�
Joey nodded rotely. The implications of Seto's response eluded him for a moment, but his eyes went wide when they finally sank in. �You�re creating a body for my mother? But�but, Seto��
�I realize Pegasus doesn�t have the Millennium Eye, Jou. He and I have discussed this, though, and we think��
�Wait a minute! Are you saying that you and my father have been working on this together? Without killing each other?� Jou was stunned, though whether this feeling was due to shock at the idea of Seto and Pegasus collaborating on anything or surprise at being kept in the dark for so long, he had no idea.
�Jou, I didn�t want you to get your hopes up," Seto explained hastily. "I didn�t want you to know about it until I had finished the program, but Pegasus did, and after last night, I didn't want to keep it from you any longer..." He trailed off, pinching the bridge of his nose to ward off an oncoming stress headache.
�But Pops doesn�t have the Millennium Eye; you said it yourself. If he can�t bring back her soul, what�s the point?� Jou said.
�That's where you come in,� replied Seto, relief that Jou didn't seem to be absolutely livid with him suffusing his being.
�Huh? What can I do?� The more Seto was telling him, the more confused Joey was becoming. I almost wish I'd never asked...

�Pegasus and I believe that Yugi may be able to bring back Cecelia�s soul,� Seto said calmly, ignoring the shock on Jou's face, �and I believe that he would do anything within his power for you." A great sadness replaced relief as Seto's predominate emotional state, and he crushed Jou to his chest with a great, heaving exhalation. "Do you have any idea how fortunate you are to have so many people in your life who would do so much for you?�
Though Jou had been confused for the rest of the conversation, Seto's loneliness reached him loud and clear. He stroked the strong back beneath his hands reassuringly as he spoke, the vibration of his voice against Seto's chest nearly driving the brunet insane. "You've got me, dragon master. I'd do anything for you, and so would Mokuba."
"I know." Had it been anyone but Seto in his arms, Jou would have said that he was about to burst into tears. "Thank you, Jou.�
He was cut off by Jou's soft, gentle kiss. �So, you want me to convince Yugi to use the Millennium Puzzle to retrieve my mother�s soul from the Shadow Realm?� Joey asked as their lips separated, hoping he'd gotten the basic principle of the matter down.
�Yes, Jou. I wasn�t going to tell anyone until I had the program finished, though, so Yugi has no idea about any of it.�
�Wouldn�t it have made more sense to ask Yugi if he thought he could, or was even willing to try pulling this off before sinking so much time and energy into it?" What started out as a simple question became a reprimand as Jou's irritation escalated with each word. "You know, you�re going to make yourself sick working so hard. This is supposed to be a vacation!�
�Jou, I wanted to surprise you with this.� Seto smirked half-heartedly. "Apparently, I was successful.�
Tears stung Joey�s eyes as he realized that his dragon master was working so hard for the sole purpose of making him happy. �I�m sorry, baby blue eyes," he apologized softly. "I�ve just really missed you.
Seto smiled and nuzzled the blond�s head with his cheek, basking in the quiet moment before releasing him. �I've missed you too. More than you can possibly know."
Jou beamed, wanting nothing more than to spend the rest of their vacation making up for lost time with his boyfriend. For the moment, though, he had more important things to take care of. �I�ll go talk to Yugi, okay?�
"Fine," replied Seto, but it was clear that something else was still bothering him. "Would you do something else for me?"
Jou grinned, �Anything.�
�Do you know where Mokuba is?� Images of Bakura looming over his little brother's unconscious form assaulted Seto's mind, and he forced himself to wait for Jou's answer before going insane.
�That's easy," said his lover, still grinning. "I asked him to get Tristan up.�
�I don�t like it that Pegasus doesn�t want to confront Bakura. What's more, I hate it that it endangers my brother; the only reason I tolerate it is because Pegasus is more familiar with this Millennium magic crap." Seto sighed wearily. "I want you to tell Tristan about Bakura. If he's helping you keep an eye on Mokuba, maybe I can get some work done.� One glance at the especially chaotic disaster that had once been his library drew another sigh from the dragon master.
Jou nodded, but lingered in the room a few moments longer. �Are you sure you�re okay, Seto? You�re acting kind of strange.�
Seto smiled. �I�m better now, Pup, and I'll be better still once I know Mokuba's safe."
�Okay. I�ll go see what the rest of those bums are up to.� Jou grinned as he left Seto to his work, confident that his lover would accomplish his task with his sanity intact.
On his way to find Tristan and Mokuba, he gathered his new painting supplies, feeling self-conscious about their price even as he admired their quality. His quest was mercifully short, as both Mokuba and Tristan were helping Serenity to build an elaborate sandcastle on the beach when he walked outside to drop off his rather cumbersome cargo. Serenity looked like she�d given up on drawing in favor of sculpting, and Jou smiled at her even as he noticed Bakura lounging on the deck, completely absorbed in the picture he was drawing.
Joey glanced at Bakura�s picture in passing, immediately wishing he hadn�t. The dark spirit had conjured a hideous obelisk of a monster onto the paper, composed of screaming, agonized faces and jangled limbs bent into odd shapes. To Joey, it seemed as though the tormented beings were attempting to escape the confines of the artist's warped imagination, and the mere idea of such an occurrence sent a shudder down his back.
Tearing his attention from the drawing, Jou got his hands on a bucket, filled it with water, and got Tristan�s attention by threatening to douse the sandcastle. His just reward was a scolding from all three sculptors and being chased down the beach by Tristan. To his credit, Jou managed to hold onto the bucket, but ended up getting tackled from behind and taking an early morning saltwater shower before he could bring it into play and do the same thing to his friend. Tristan seemed satisfied with this poetic justice, and Jou's amber gaze followed him back towards the sandcastle as he walked towards it, both boys laughing hysterically. Since Jou's arrival, Croquet had appeared, and was apparently giving Serenity and Mokuba architectural suggestions as he paced around the castle. It suddenly struck Joey how familiar the castle on the beach seemed, but he couldn�t for the life of him figure out why.
Deciding that it wasn't important, he smiled up at his perturbed and panting pal instead. �Hey, did you get kicked out of your room for snoring?�
Tristan frowned and crouched down in front of Jou, glancing apprehensively at Bakura. "No, I left. You wouldn't believe--"
�He�s not Ryou Bakura, is he, Tris?� Jou also stole a glance at the albino boy, knowing just how sharp were the daggers behind those deceivingly placid eyes.
�How'd you know?" Tristan's brow furrowed in surprise; it wasn't like Jou to figure things out so quickly.
�I had a dream last night. He was floating about a foot above the bed, and the Millennium Ring was glowing as bright as day,� Jou explained. "Doesn't take Seto to figure it out."
Tristan snorted. "I always knew you were only playing dumb all these years," he said before dragging Jou to his feet and leading him further away from the house, and Bakura. "Come on, man. Let's go talk somewhere we don't have to worry about being overheard. I don't trust Yami Bakura as far as I could throw him." Tristan frowned in thought, �Probably not that far.�
"Good idea," said Jou, following willingly.
On the deck, Bakura turned to stare at their retreating backs, ignoring the pull of the spires embedded in his chest. Perhaps Pegasus' whelp is more dangerous than I had bargained for, he thought, turning back to his drawing with a satisfied smirk. Shame to let the Reaper have such a pretty specimen, but I don't suppose it can be helped.

Angry lines began to shoot through his hellish version of the Shadow Realm, piercing vital areas on the vaguely human forms. Enjoy your last day on this plane, foolish child, snickered the dark spirit of the Ring as he drew a particularly dark slash through the chest of one of the more prominent humanoid figures. Pleasant memories will keep you suffering that much longer.

~*~*~*~
Several minutes later, Tristan returned to helping with the sandcastle while Jou settled in beside his father, who had slipped in unnoticed with his bodyguard. As Jou began to collect the supplies strewn across the deck, he noticed that Pegasus was painting the scene in front of them. In open admiration, he watched Tristan, Serenity and Mokuba appear on the canvas, frozen forever in the act of building their sandcastle. The ocean made the perfect background, and at length Jou noticed Croquet standing slightly apart from the others. Had Jou not known the subjects of the painting, he would have thought it chronicled a father spending a summer day with his children. The thought of his Uncle Chris as a father made Jou smirk; he could just imagine the man trailing his youngsters in silence, his mere stalwart presence enough to curb any thoughts of mischief making.
�Good morning, Joseph.� Pegasus smiled at his son, partly in greeting and partly in amusement at having caught him in the act of staring at his painting.
�Morning, Pops.� Jou grinned back, but quickly sobered up. �Hey, I wanted to say I�m sorry about what happened last night� I mean, when I suggested team dueling��
�It�s quite all right, Joseph. You needn�t apologize for Kaiba-boy�s behaviour." The silver-haired artist dipped his brush into a canister of cobalt paint, trailing it along the ocean's border lines until the grey seam between the image of the beach and that of the water was invisible.
Joey paused midway through setting up his own canvas and paints, shaking his head vigorously. �I wasn�t apologizing for Seto, Father. I was the one to blame; I didn't think about what I was saying before I said it.�
Pegasus sighed. He had quite enough with which to concern himself without worrying about his son�s love life, but Joseph simply couldn�t take the all the blame for Kaiba�s insensitivity. After all, even had his lover been at fault, the CEO could have bowed out gracefully. �Joseph, it wasn�t your fault. It was an entirely reasonable idea.�
�No, it was," insisted Jou. "I should have known how he would react; he can be so stubborn. But... he hated Yugi at first too, and I thought that, since he duelled with him against Umbra and Lumis, maybe he might start to change his mind about you over a duel...� He sighed. "Guess it was a long shot, huh?" he said as he sat down in front of his easel, trying to decide what to paint. The image of Bakura�s too graphic artwork taunted him, reminding him of the discoveries made during the night and making him wonder what had happened to Ryou, and the worry naturally coloured his concentration.
He was so deep in his own thoughts that he didn't notice Pegasus' absence from his chair until the older man rested a strong hand on his son's shoulder. "Kaiba-boy could learn much from your optimism and capacity to forgive, Joseph. It was very noble of you to even entertain such a notion."
Though his father's words didn't completely nullify the sting of failure, they definitely numbed it. "Thanks, Pops," Jou said, favouring Pegasus with a brilliant smile as he snapped up his paintbrush, his former indecision and uncertainty a thing of the past.
As Pegasus watched, Seto's image appeared on the canvas, staring out haughtily at the viewer as he leaned against a tree, a veritable forest serving as a necessarily submissive background. Joseph painted his lover exactly as he was, tough and hard with no soft edges, and yet somehow still managed to capture the inner beauty and power of a unique man set apart by his rare gifts. If one were to look closely enough into the narrowed blue pools, Seto's sadness and loneliness were almost heart-wrenchingly plain to see.
Croquet paused on his way to the house, looking over Max�s shoulder at Joseph�s canvas. �Hmph.�
Joey looked up, startled out of adding soft auburn tones to his beloved�s dark hair. �What?�
�You take after your father,� Chris pronounced flatly, as though he were announcing Jou�s doom.
�Huh?� Confusion only heightened his son�s endearing charm, Pegasus decided.
�Christopher, be nice,� Max admonished gently, unable to bite back a low chuckle.
�Be nice, Sir? All I said was that he takes after you.� Croquet said with mock defensiveness, maintaining his innocence.
�Yes, and what you meant was that he�s become a hopeless romantic,� Pegasus elaborated.
Jou�s eyes flicked back and forth between the two men as they bantered, and he was becoming more puzzled by the second until Seto�s words echoed in his mind. �You don�t suppose�that they have something going on?� Dismissively, incredulously, the blond shook his head, but neither of his two companions noticed.
�And?� Croquet raised an eyebrow, recognizing that he was trapped.
�And you were on your to fix lunch, weren�t you?� Pegasus reminded him innocuously.
�Yes, Sir.� Croquet nodded to each of them as he entered the house.
No sooner than the back door had closed than Serenity was charging up the steps to the deck. "Did Croquet just go inside to make lunch?" she asked.
Jou nodded as he returned to his painting. At least among his brush and colour, he was safe. "Yep, just now."
"Thank you," she said sweetly, stalking into the house. "Mr. Croquet, you promised I could help you today!" Her voice held a note that could almost have been described as whiny, and both Pegasus and Joey snickered softly as they listened from their places on the deck through the open kitchen window. Of all the items on the very long list of things Croquet could deal with reliably, teenage girls were not one of them.
Chris, true to form, was completely baffled by the girl. She was kind and considerate, yet could also be obstinate. This came as a shock to him, for he was the kind of man who either commanded the army or was the army, and, either way, answered only to the general himself. Serenity, on the other hand, was a young lady with the capacity to decimate the army with a single foul look, simply by evoking their innate humanity regardless of how many layers of armour they happened to be wearing. Croquet was completely at her mercy, reduced to an assistant chef in the kitchen he had commandeered just yesterday by a sweet little slip of a girl who had charmed him senseless. In some ways, she reminded him of Cecelia, and he had to wonder just how Pegasus managed to draw these butterflies to him.

Perhaps butterflies, at heart, crave chaos, he thought, and his moustache did a good job of hiding the soft smile that graced his lips at that idea. Certainly, his master had chaos to spare.
~*~*~*~
Tea sat on the edge of an armchair in the living room, tensed for a quick escape should anything become the slightest bit more uncomfortable than it already was. At the moment, Yami had separated from Yugi again, and each person in the room was weathering the anxious silence, waiting for someone else to speak. Each had different reasons for perpetuating this strained atmosphere, of course; Yugi was obviously embarrassed, and Yami inability to cope seamlessly with the modern age had stolen his confidence in this matter.
Finally, she broke the silence herself, sick of the suspense. �Why is this so hard? We shouldn�t be afraid to talk to each other! How long have we been friends, and through how much hardship?�
Yugi looked from Tea to Yami and back again. His other half had gotten them into this beyond-delicate situation, but now he was as tight-lipped as the Sphinx, waiting for Yugi to fix it. �I�m sorry if I seemed insensitive on the beach, Tea. I just �well, I�m used to talking to Yami in my head, and yesterday, I was pretty busy with everything else. I didn�t mean to make it seem like I wanted to talk to him more than I did you.�
Tea smiled, tears sparkling in her eyes. �I know, Yugi. I�m sorry too. I overreacted.�
�Okay�uh, so�� It was a struggle to find the right words; Yugi had expected the beach fiasco to take a while to smooth over, and as such hadn't decided what aspect of the problem to tackle first.
�Aibou? Tea?" Yami interrupted, his voice quiet and far beyond serious. "I, too, am sorry, for being so presumptuous.�
�It�s okay, Yami. You just startled me last night,� Tea admitted. The episode with Yami was the least of her concerns at this point, and had been since she had begun to seriously contemplate the possibility of a three-way relationship. �But�I thought�I was afraid...,� she trailed off, blushing slightly. �Maybe you guys wanted to date each other, and that you just wanted me around so that no one would know you were�together.�
Yugi and Yami exchanged nearly identical surprised glances. �Uh�Tea�I think�well, I know I�m straight, and I think Yami is too. At least, we�ve never thought of each other that way.� He raised his eyebrows at the pharaoh, and his expression told his near-twin that if he wished to contradict his statement, now was the time.
�No, we don�t feel that way about each other,� Yami confirmed, laying Yugi�s fears to rest. The pharaoh hesitated before he spoke again, not wanting to pressure Tea, but unable to deny the hope he felt. �I take it from this line of questioning that you have considered what we spoke of last night?�
�You really want me to date both of you?� Tea�s eyes widened in shock. It was her turn to be dumbfounded; she had seriously expected the entire thing to be a cover-up for their own narcissistic desires.

�I�m being too bold again. Forgive me.� The pharaoh lowered his eyes submissively, his long lashes concealing his obvious disappointment.
�I think this is just a little sudden for all of us, Yami.� Yugi said in consolation, recognizing Yami's misinterpretation of Tea's reply.
�Yet it is quite obvious that you care very much for each other. Maybe it is I who should... �butt out�.� Yami replied.
�No, Yami, I didn�t mean�� Tea was suddenly at a loss for words. She twisted her hands together in frustration; things were degenerating quickly, and it was all because of her indecisiveness.
�Yami is right, Tea. I do care a lot about you. I just, well, I didn�t how to tell you. Of course, Yami and I are like two versions of the same person, so I wouldn�t mind if you dated both of us.� Yugi�s face was the same deep crimson of Yami�s eyes as he continued. �If you�re okay with that, I mean.�
Tea smiled and nodded, much more comfortable now that Yugi was there with her and Yami. �Okay. It�s unusual, but then again, so are you guys.�
Yugi smiled brightly, first at her and then at Yami, who nodded his agreement. �May I return to my soul room now, aibou?� The pharaoh was more than a little drained from all the recent developments concerning both Tea and Bakura.
�Sure,� Yugi agreed amicably, his anger with the pharaoh for letting the cat out of the bag fast turning into an all-consuming gratitude.
Once Yami had disappeared, though, he and Tea were left with an awkward silence. Eventually, though, he gathered enough courage to speak. �One thing bothers me, though��
�What�s that?� Tea asked, tilting her head unconsciously.
�He got to kiss you first,� Yugi pouted.
Tea smiled, relieved that for once, the problem could be so easily solved. �Look at it this way, Yugi. You get to kiss me last."
She slid to the floor gracefully, tucking her long, slender legs beneath her. Yugi leaned down over her from his place on the couch, violet pools taking in her softly contoured face, her starry blue eyes, her rosebud lips, committing every detail to memory. Uncertainly, he touched his lips to hers, encouraged when she didn�t hesitate and instead drew him closer in a tender embrace.
When they broke the kiss and Yugi found his voice again, he said, � Wow, maybe Yami had a reason for being impatient for us to get together.�
In mock irritation, Tea leaned back, placing her hands on her hips. "Hmph. Is that all I am to you; a sex object?"
Horror settled over Yugi's face, and he sputtered for words that could fix the imagined slight. "I-I didn't mean it l-like that..."
Her finger across his lips silenced him. "Yugi, you're way too sensitive," she laughed as she pulled him down from his lofty perch, forcefully imprisoning his lips with her own once more.
~*~*~*~
That afternoon, Pegasus and Croquet stayed behind at the beach house while the teenagers went to Shell Beach for their surfing lessons. Pegasus had returned to his painting of the beach scene as soon as he could, eager to finish it, while Croquet toured the perimeter of Sandcastle Pegasus.

A few adjustments here, thought the salt-and-pepper haired man as he knelt beside the structure, applying more sand to the thinnest tower, and there. Perfect.

His satisfied smile quickly became a frown as Max's hysterical laughter reached his ears, and piercing grey eyes narrowed beneath dark shades. �Am I missing out on something extremely entertaining, Sir?� he asked dryly.
Pegasus tried to get a grip on himself, but being reminded of Chris� peculiar tendency to address him as �Sir� even when they were alone made him laugh even harder. Fortunately for him, Chris was patient enough and familiar enough with his master's outbursts to allow him the chance to compose himself before pressing for a reply once more.
At length, the silver-haired man's laughter subsided, and he walked across the beach to rest his elegant hands on his lover�s shoulders. �Oh, Christopher, you are absolutely delectable,� he said, gently kissing away the older man's slight frustration.
Croquet allowed himself to languish in the sensation of Max's lips on his before pulling away. �Hmph� be that as it may, Maximillion, would you care to explain just what you were carrying on about?� Though one would never know it from his tone, Chris� harshness was melting with great alacrity, and this fact had little to do with the heat of the midday sun.
Pegasus snickered once more, the image flooding back into the foreground of his memory at Chris' words. �You were doing a security patrol of a sandcastle�,� was all he managed to get out before he collapsed into another fit of laughter.
Croquet�s brow furrowed, and he took advantage of his boss' temporary indisposition to attempt a quick escape into the house.
�Chris, just where do you think you are going?� It was Max's turn to frown; how dare Croquet spoil his fun?
�To the house,� Croquet replied, patiently stating the obvious.
Pegasus sighed. Though he adored Christopher, the man had a tendency to take things far too literally. �One of my eyes still functions perfectly well, Chris. Why are you going to the house?�
The bodyguard cleared his throat before elaborating. �As far as I know, a suit is not appropriate jogging attire, unless of course one is in pursuit of �bad guys�.�
An impish gleam with which he was all too familiar took shape in Max�s eye at these words, and though he knew he would never reach his running shoes, he felt obliged to at least make a show of resistance to entertain his boss. Abruptly, he whirled and sprinted half-heartedly for the backdoor, fully hoping Pegasus would catch him before he reached his destination.
He had gained the deck before Pegasus' arms encircled his waist. Far too sure of himself, his employer attempted to use his weight to force Chris down, and his surprise was clearly etched on his face when Chris simply rolled with it. �I think I�m going to enjoy this, Sir," the all-too-willing prisoner said, favouring his master with a rare, brilliant grin.
In return, Pegasus loosed a sound that fell somewhere between a growl and a laugh. �Why, you! If I didn�t know better, Christopher, I�d swear you had been planning this all along!" He plucked the shades from Chris� face, making it far easier to ascertain what the grey-eyed man was thinking, and was rewarded by a deeply loving gaze that was lost to him far too soon as Chris closed the distance between their lips.
Lost in the moment, all Max could do was sigh blissfully into his protector's mouth. It was indeed a rare treat when Christopher dominated him, and he rather enjoyed the change of pace. Casually, he draped one bare leg over Chris� and buried his hands in the thick, greying hair while his lover was occupied with plundering his mouth. Their tongues danced in a sweet, leisurely ballet, the product of new love's urgent passion tempered by an intimate, eternal commitment.
The moment was shattered, however, when Croquet pulled away, considering his duty done. Without a word, he rose to his feet, straightened his suit, and continued on his way into the house, as though nothing had transpired.
Pegasus glared at Croquet�s back, his playfulness quickly vanishing into a haze of anger. Angrily, he strode across the beach, kicking off his sandals and throwing his white shirt carelessly onto the sand, not caring how dirty it became. Clad only in his tan khaki shorts, he continued walking until he was waist deep in ocean water before diving under the waves as gracefully as a native of the sea.
Moments later, Chris returned to the deck in his favorite jogging shorts and running shoes, and panic immediately flashed through his normally calm heart. Where the hell is he? Then, he caught sight of the discarded sandals and shirt, and followed Max�s trail to the edge of the water. Perhaps a swim would be preferable to a jog... he thought, stripping out of everything but his shorts even as he scanned the water for any sign of his boss.
His anxiety level peaked once again when he failed to catch sight of Pegasus instantly. Visions began to fly through his head, terrible images of underwater currents and suicidal tendencies. It wasn't that he believed Max would really try to kill himself; not now, anyway, having just reunited with his son on the verge of reclaiming his wife. Still, logic was powerless to pacify panic, and Croquet waded out until he was knee-deep in water, becoming more frantic with every step.
�Did you lose something?� a deep, amused voice called out to him from the beach.
Christopher sighed in relief, making his way to the outcropping of rocks where Pegasus lounged. His feet stirred the water slightly, and tiny streams from his dripping hair mapped out the topography of his chest. God, he�s beautiful. Please let me keep him. �Not at all, Sir. It simply seems to be a good day for a swim.�
�For crying out loud, Christopher!" Pegasus nearly snarled in his frustration. "The children aren�t here, yet you seem intent on wasting our opportunity to have some fun with inane chatter." He paused, composing himself once again. "There is something I should like you to lose.�
Chris felt his face heat up despite himself as Max�s eye roamed over his form, suddenly self-conscious in his jogging shorts. Quickly, he moved to sit behind his employer on the rock, preventing Max from noticing the errant blush as he gathered his lover's silken strands of hair in his calloused hands, finger combing them back into place. �And that would be?�
�Your inhibitions,� Max declared imperially, suddenly aware of the complete mastery he could wield over Christopher, should he choose to exercise it.
Croquet�s moustache twitched involuntarily. �Sir?�
�You simply have far too much self-control, Christopher. I think it long overdue that you lose it, if only around me.� Pegasus elaborated.
�My self-control?� Chris choked. Max may has well have told him to cut off one of his own hands. Come to think of it, perhaps that would be more easily accomplished... �Max, I think you�ve been out in the sun too long.�
Pegasus leaned back against him, gazing intently into Chris� face. �I love you, Christopher, though I�ve seldom said the words. When I had the Millennium Eye, your rather formidable reserve was not a hindrance, for I could easily bypass it. Now, though, we may have little time left to us--"
Christopher took Max�s chin in his hand and tipped his head back a little further, cutting off his explanation by uniting their lips once more, conveying through sensation what language could not. One hand trailed over the fine white hairs of Max�s chest, and his lips left his lover�s mouth in favour of exploring the long line of his neck.
Pegasus stopped the older man�s wandering hand before it could reach his belt. Last night, it had been Chris who brought up the impending complication, and now he was using seduction to avoid conversation. When Max had spoken of Chris losing his inhibitions, he hadn�t meant exclusively with regard to sex; the man was appallingly tightlipped about his emotions, and Max longed for the deeper intimacy they had known while he had possessed the Eye.
�Maximillion?�
�Hmph.� Max sat up and crossed his arms over his chest, pouting slightly in irritation as Chris' hands fell away from him.
Croquet�s lips curved into something as close to a real smile as anything else that had ever or would ever grace his lips. Because he had his back to Chris, however, Max missed it entirely. Truth be told, Chris was as intrigued by the challenge his master had set before him as he was with all things Pegasus. While part of his mind worked on deducing an reply that would satisfy his at-times moody lover, another part began to formulate ideas of payback for the many tortures that he had endured over the many years of being Max's near-constant companion. �Sir, is something troubling you?�
Max rose and stalked off as elegantly as he could, being that he was still wading in hip-deep water. A thousand tiny needles of pain stung his heart as it occurred to him that, although Chris had chosen to remain at his side, fulfilling the dual role of protector and lover, he would always be closed off to him emotionally. Perhaps it was his fault, for demanding so much of Christopher while offering so little in return, but he would never accept their private relationship becoming another service Croquet provided for him. The mere thought of Chris being reduced to his full-time prostitute filled him with an agony that outstripped anything else he had experienced since Cecelia's death. If their relationship could not continue, he would have to send Chris away once again, and this time it would have to be for good.
The sight that met his eyes as he rounded the outcropping of rock jarred him from his bleak reverie and stole the breath from his lungs. He had stumbled on a small, hidden cove, cut off from the rest of the world by a rock wall encircling three sides and the relentlessly advancing ocean shielding the fourth. The sandbar would disappear when the tide came in, but at the moment, it was the perfect lovers� hideaway.
Croquet realized too late that Max was in an overly sensitive mood. When the silver-haired man had left him, his movements had been taunting, provoking Chris to pursuit. Now, they were stiff and defensive, a switch which greatly confused the normally affable bodyguard. Chris was torn between wanting to throttle Max for his intricate mood shifts, leaving him alone to ponder his too-deep thoughts, and gathering Max into his arms in order to protect him from himself. Rather than waste any energy striking a compromise between the three warring sides, he opted for a fourth choice, and swam a full quarter of a mile out from the shore. When he came back, he too discovered the cove, where Max was stretched out in the sand like a lazy, sunbathing cat. Croquet's moustache twitched mischievously, and he stripped off his impromptu swimming trunks beneath the water. With the silent stealth of one who has lived his life in the approximation of invisibility, he began to approach his prey.
He came up stealthily on Max�s blind side, watching his master intently for the slightest indication that he was aware of his presence. Max remained motionless, however, his surviving eye closed in apparent slumber. Encouraged, Chris advanced, waiting until he was standing directly over his favourite sun-worshipper before taking his soggy shorts and wringing them out over the unsuspecting man's chest.
�Arggh!� Max cried out, startled by the abrupt, rude, and extremely chilly shower.
Chris snickered, the noise eventually evolving into a laugh that was slightly creaky from disuse. Max didn't know what had shocked him more; the shower or the noise escaping from his stoic lover's throat. �Christopher! You�re laughing! I haven�t heard you laugh since�,� Max frowned in an effort to remember, �I don�t remember when!�
Chris sobered up instantly. �Nor do I remember the last time I saw such an expression on your face, Sir.� He sat down beside Max in the sand, tracing the angular planes of Max�s face beneath rough fingers before leaning in to kiss him lightly. �I love you, Maximillion, though the price of my passion will ultimately be pain, and endless yearning my only gain. Still, though, I will love you in the depth of my silence as no other ever will, through all the quiet years yet to come.�
Tears streaked the right side of Pegasus� face. Had he really thought that, after all this time, Chris could love him with less than his whole soul, or that he could possibly manage life without the taciturn man? So complete was his foolishness that he couldn't help but laugh at himself.
�Christopher, while I truly hope that circumstances do not become so dire for either of us, shall we make the most of the time we presently possess?� Max caressed the inside of Chris� gloriously bare, muscled thigh. �Thank you for consenting to share all that you are with me.�
�Even the occasional roll in the sand, Sir?� Chris cocked a devilish eyebrow at his master, shifting his position so that his tanned, glistening body caught the sun's rays that much more enticingly.
�Even that,� Pegasus agreed, his laugh swallowed by Croquet as fast as it escaped his mouth.
~*~*~*~
Seto mastered the waves easily, as though he had been born for no other purpose. His study of martial arts served him well, giving his lean body perfect balance and control. Perhaps he was too talented for his own good, though; Tristan and Bakura quickly came to the conclusion that Seto's grace was making them look bad, and so began conspiring to knock him off his board and, in the process, teach the Ice King a few things about humility.
The dragon master was so enthralled with his newfound skill that he failed to notice that Jou�s instructor was spending far more time hitting on his boyfriend than she was teaching him anything. Joey flirted innocently with the curvaceous dark-eyed girl in return, skilfully parrying her advances with practiced vagaries. As for the rest of the group, Serenity and Mokuba were the only ones learning anything; Yugi and Tea were completely lost in each other, and Serenity doubted they even remembered their instructor's name. Oh, well. Good for them, anyway.

A few minutes later, Seto trudged up the beach, dragging his surfboard up the beach and looking for all the world like a drowned rat. If he had had any doubts whatsoever about getting rid of Bakura before, he certainly wanted to now, regardless of what Pegasus said. The white-haired-whatever-he-was was a menace, plain and simple, and to make things worse, he was brainwashing Jou's friends as part of a scheme to drive Kaiba insane before he could turn his distant dreams of a Bakura-free vacation into reality.
His already dark stare became a full-blown glower when he noticed Jou�s pretty instructor pawing his puppy. A growl began to boil up in his throat, and Seto stalked up to where they were standing and stiffly introduced himself to the interloper. �Hello. I�m Seto Kaiba.� He debated including the fact that he and Jou were lovers, but held back at the last minute. In addition to the fact that he wanted to size up the competition, as it were, embarrassing Jou might have dire consequences in the near future.
�Hi! I�m Tiffani,� she responded brightly as she leaned against Jou's shoulder, oblivious to the death glare that would have frozen any intelligent human being to the spot instantly. It took a few moments of silence, broken only by the near-constant snapping of her chewing gum, for the name to register with her. �Hey, are you related to the Kaiba Corp Kaibas or anything?�
Joey couldn't help but snicker at her idiocy. Even if Seto's face hadn't been plastered everywhere during the Battle City tournament, his boyfriend was definitely more than a local celebrity. And people think I'm dumb. �He is the Kaiba Corp Kaiba.�
�Really?!� Tiffani squealed. �Kaiba Corp makes, like, the best games ever! Oh, my God, wait until I tell my little brother that I got to meet you! He�ll be sooo jealous!�
Seto�s jealous glare quickly turned to an expression of pure, unadulterated horror as the girl withdrew her talons from Jou and began advancing on him. �Uh�Jou�?� he said, backing up a few paces and fighting the temptation to hide behind his boyfriend.
Obligingly, Joey inserted himself between Seto and the surfing instructor. �Tif, trust me, Seto�s not your type." Seeing the crestfallen look on Tiffani's face, he quickly offered her something along the lines of a compromise. "Hey, maybe you can bring your brother along tomorrow to meet the great and mighty CEO? You wouldn't mind, would ya, Seto?" He turned his back to Tiffani, winking one entrancing eye at his lover.
Tiffani brightened considerably at this comment, and the sound of her gum snapping returned with her cheerful mood. �Sure thing! He�d love that! Thanks, Joey!" She kissed the blond on the cheek, and Seto's face turned three shades of red, all of them murderous. "I'll see you guys tomorrow, then?" Without waiting for an answer, she trotted off, and the minute she was out of earshot, Seto's arms went around Jou possessively, the dragon master relishing in his delicious prey's squeak of surprise.
�What did you just get me into?� Seto breathed against his ear.
Joey shuddered in his arms, and this tangible proof that he was having an effect on his lover made Seto cling to him that much tighter. �I was thinking we'd introduce her brother to Mokuba, and Mokuba can tell them all about Kaiba Corp while you show me some of those moves you were doing out there.�
�I�ll show you some moves right now, Pup. Best of all, they don�t require a surfboard.� Seto's playful nip at his ear was more a promise than a threat.
~*~*~*~
In the Shadow Realm, a melancholy Ryou waited for the waning light of Cecelia�s soul to be extinguished completely. She had regained some of her strength for a brief time, but her condition was once again degenerating with every moment that passed. At the moment, he was sitting outside her colorful pavilion, writing in the dirt with a stick. It gave him something to do other than watch her form become more and more transparent.

Forever together,

Forever apart,

Light loving darkness,

Dark hating light.

Broken souls

Brought together,

Made whole.

Why did Bakura hate him so? Enviously, he considered Yami and Yugi�s relationship; the proud, millennium-old pharaoh bowing to the will of half-pint Yugi, protecting him from both modern dangers and ancient Shadow magic, accepting his host as he was. Perhaps if he were stronger, Ryou would have been able to win Bakura's respect, if not his affection.

Perhaps if I were stronger, I would be able to save Cecelia. He was certain of only one thing in his despair; he would not be able to continue in such a meaningless existence alone. Without Cecelia's calming, motherly influence, he would lapse into a pit of self-condemnation, and non-existence was preferable to this eventuality by far.
How would he do it, though? It wasn't like he had a body to stab, or shoot, or poison... he would have enter the Graveyard, and seek out the fearsome Reaper of the Cards. Yes, that would mean that Bakura would hold his body, uncontested, but Ryou was certain that Yami would be able to stop whatever diabolical plot the dark spirit of the Ring had in the works.

No one will miss this one little mouse, he thought sorrowfully as he threw the stick into the dirt, obscuring his writings as he turned back to the pavilion where Cecelia's soul was being devoured by the Shadows.
The moment she was no more, he would put his grim plan into action.
~*~*~*~
By the time that the sunburned teenagers returned to the beach house, it was already late afternoon. Oddly enough, the house was conspicuously unoccupied, and while Pegasus� painting supplies were still set up on the beach and the white Jag was in the driveway, there was no sign of either Pegasus or Croquet. This presented a golden opportunity for Seto, who craved going back to work like a junkie in need of a fix but also wanted to confirm his suspicions about Pegasus and his too-closely-attached shadow.
Of course, though, calming his worried mutt down took priority. �Jou, I�m sure they�re fine. They probably just went for a walk, so why don�t you help Serenity get supper together while I check the beach out?"
�Nah. Seto, I�m coming with you," Joey objected, shaking his head stubbornly. "I�m worried about Pops with everything that�s been going on," he explained in a whisper, though they were the only ones remaining on the deck.
�Suit yourself.� Seto shrugged, secretly glad for the company.
They walked along the rocks for close to twenty minutes without finding any sign of either billionaire or bodyguard. Seto was beginning to hope that he might finally be rid of his nemesis, but one look at Jou's fretful face made him sigh guiltily. �One thing I do know about your father, Jou, is that he�s like a bad penny,� he said, attempting to comfort his lover by throwing an arm across his shoulders as they walked.
�Huh?� He needn't have bothered saying anything; Jou's anxiety had sent him into a near-hypnotic trance.
�He always comes back,� Seto said. �Besides, it�s not like Croquet would let anything happen to him.�
�But what if something happened to Croquet?� Joey asked, biting his lip as he wrapped his own arm around Seto's waist, leaning against his boyfriend for support.
On the other side of the rocks, their voices reached an uncharacteristically unprepared Croquet. He and Max had fallen asleep in the shade of the outcropping, curled up together like small children, and the growing shadows told him they had been out far longer than he had intended.
�Look, Jou, if they want to sneak off and screw each other�s brains out, that�s their business!� Kaiba had raised his voice sometime during the conversation, and the sound filtering through the rock wall between him and Croquet carried a note of exasperation.
�What!?� Joey yelled back. He was still painfully oblivious to their relationship, and Croquet wondered just how long Seto had known before attempting to make his own lover aware of the situation.
The noise had brought Pegasus around by then, and he gave Chris a puzzled, displeased look. At least Jou and Kaiba couldn�t see them, but he harboured no delusions about how long it would take the latter's genius brain to think of looking behind the outcropping of rock that shielded them.
As though he had been reading his protector's mind, he whispered, �Kaiba-boy figured it out while we were still in New York. I�m actually surprised he hasn�t let Joseph in on it sooner.�
"So am I," replied the older man, rummaging around in the sand for his shorts.
On the other side of the rock wall, Joey felt like the wind had suddenly gone out of his sails. His shock was so complete that he dropped to his knees in the sand, and Seto felt a flash of worry go through his own heart. That�s what was going on last night. Seto tried to tell me... could I really be that dense, or was I just in denial?

�B-but�� Jou stammered, at a loss to form coherent syllables.
Seto sat down beside him, taking one of his hands. �I know. I don�t get it either, especially since everything he�s done was because he wanted your mother back." He paused, considering an alternate explanation. "Maybe it�s just sex.�
Jou shook his head vehemently. �No. Father isn�t that superficial.�
�Are you okay, Jou?� Seto kissed his lover's forehead. "I'm sorry for springing that on you."
Joey smiled into the kiss, squeezing Seto's hand. �I'm just surprised, though I shouldn�t be. You tried to tell me last night, didn�t you?�
Seto nodded, but his attention was drawn to the waves, where the objects of their quest were wading to the shore. Jou followed his gaze, cringing inwardly; he really didn't want to confront his father in this state. �Hi, Pops,� he said dejectedly, powerless to even simulate his usual, cheerful tone. �How was your afternoon?�
�It was very nice, Joseph. Did you enjoy surfing?� Even as he spoke, Pegasus' eye silently met Kaiba's, asking how his son really was. Seto ignored him; it was obvious that Joseph was both confused and hurt, and most probably felt betrayed by his father's silence.
�Yeah, it was fun.� Jou's eyes had lost their glittering enthusiasm for life; all he wanted was to crawl into bed and wish the entire world away.
�Sir, I should be seeing about supper.� Croquet interjected quietly, realizing that he was only perpetuating the situation.
Pegasus nodded absently as Seto rose, taking his cue from Croquet. � I�m going to get cleaned up,� he began but Joey still clung to his hand, unwilling to be left alone. He frowned, kneeling down to whisper to his dragon-pup. "You need this time to work it out with your father, on even terms. It's unfair if I remain after Croquet has gone."
�Okay,� the blond replied, realizing the truth of his lover's words.
Seto reclaimed his hand from Jou's grip, kissing his lips chastely. "I'll see you in a while. Good luck."
"Thanks." Silence reigned between the remaining two men on the beach until both Seto and Croquet were far out of earshot. �I guess now I know how Serenity felt when Tristan blurted out to her that I was gay,� said Jou at length, speaking around a deep intake of breath.
�Joseph, I�m not gay,� Pegasus said, trying not to sound defensive.
�Okay, you�re bisexual.� Jou shrugged, as though there were little difference.
�Perhaps,� Pegasus admitted quietly, �although I tend not to think of it in those terms." He turned Joey's face toward his, staring into amber eyes that were so like his own, and yet so undeniably different. "Joseph, I have only ever loved two people in my life; your mother, of course, and that man who just left. My heart does not draw a line at their genders, but knows only that Christopher and Cecelia are rare and beautiful beings, whose empathy and courageous acceptance have kept me from being utterly alone in the world.�
�What happens when Seto brings my mother back?� Joey asked, his voice small and forlorn.
�I don�t know, son,� Max said truthfully. Jou leaned against him, exhaling softly, and the silver-haired artist stroked his hair affectionately.
"At least I know I come by my insanity honestly,� Jou said into his chest, his lips curving into a lopsided grin.
Pegasus laughed aloud, pulling Jou to his feet as he stood. �A shower, clean clothes, and a good meal sound rather nice, do they not?�
�Uh huh, but it's going to take you most of the night just to comb out your hair, Pops."
�Really, Joseph, I do wish you would refrain from calling me that. It is most unbecoming.� Max's words were meant to be a reprimand, yet he couldn't stop a tender, playful note from bleeding into them as they walked back towards the house.
~*~*~*~
As soon as supper was over, Seto disappeared into the library once again, leaving Jou to drift aimlessly among his friends. The blond eventually managed to pry Yugi and Tea apart long enough to tell his spiky-haired friend about Seto and Pegasus' conspiracy to bring Cecelia back from the Shadow Realm, which inevitably led to a discussion of the more pressing problem that was Bakura. Yugi agreed with Pegasus, deciding that it was better to keep their enemy where they could see him, and promised to do whatever he could to help revive his mother.
"If Pegasus had just asked for what he wanted in the first place," the violet-eyed boy said, "we all could have saved a lot of time and energy, instead of having to go through the entire Duelist Kingdom ordeal."
As the sun set, bridging day and evening, life was as soothing as the rhythm of the waves hitting the beach. Eight of the nine vacationers had formed an oddly familial bond, in spite of rivalries and past misdeeds. Bakura, however, was growing weary of keeping up the constant charade, and had begun watching carefully for an opening to set his plans in motion.

If one doesn't come soon, I'll just have to create it, he decided.
Pegasus was painfully aware of Jou�s pensive mood and longed for something to distract his son, but with Seto conspicuously absent, it would hardly be fitting to hold their little tournament. Instead, he suggested telling scary stories around a bonfire, an idea which the most of the assembled company all but jumped at.
"I can't believe you forgot to pack the Playstation," Tristan growled at Mokuba as they watched the others fight over who would get to tell the first story.
Croquet started them off with a chilling tale he had heard as a child in South America, his stern face and serious manner giving his story an appropriately morbid quality. Yugi and Tea alternated between snuggling and hiding under the blanket when a scary part came up, only peeking back out when they were sure that it was over.
Pegasus' tale, �The Spectral Haunting of the Rabid, Man-Eating Funny Bunny,' had Serenity laughing until she cried in Tristan's arms. Mokuba went next, thankful for his brother's absence while he retold the story of his favourite horror movie. Seto had forbidden him to watch R-rated movies several months ago, after he�d gone through a particularly bad spell of having nightmares. The fact that Seto wasn't there held another fringe benefit for Mokuba as well; for once, he had Joey all to himself.
Once the storytelling was over, everyone but Jou and Bakura eventually drifted away from the bonfire. Joey was completely absorbed in his thoughts, ever so often sinking deeper into the protection the blanket around his shoulders offered against the cold ocean breezes.
Bakura watched the dejected blond from across the fire for a few moments. Not ten feet away sat little Jou, toy boy of corporate king Kaiba, son of pathetic Pegasus, and close friend of Millennium magic-wielding Motou, completely and utterly defenceless against his magical assaults. Normally, the annoying, loudmouthed boy wouldn't even figure into his plans, but the spirit reasoned quite correctly that everyone would be in a an uproar if anything should happen to Jou, and in that sort of frenzy, mistakes were inevitable.
He moved closer to Jou, noting with pleasure that the boy stiffened at his close proximity. �Kaiba is a real bastard�," he said, testing the waters.
Jou glared at him, but said nothing. So much had happened in the last twenty-four hours, and he was beginning to feel that Seto was the only constant in his life. To hear someone insult his lover, even if that someone did happen to be a psychopathic, dangerous, centuries-old spirit, made him want to break their face.
��an undeniably lucky bastard,� Bakura finished, dropping any pretence of being Ryou and allowing his voice to become husky. �You made a perfect Flame Swordsman, Jou. All that rippling muscle and passionate fire... your beauty was stunning.�
Joey stared into eyes as dark as the depths of Hell, the glozing lies making his own smoulder with rage. Quickly, he reached out and grabbed the chain around Bakura�s neck. yanking the Millennium Ring from its hiding place. The spires of the Ring were tinted red where they had sunken into the evil spirit's chest, but Bakura seemed not to notice, and his formerly lustful grin turned into a deathly cold smile. �The mutt�s not so dumb after all, it would seem.�
�You are no friend of mine, Yami Bakura,� Jou snarled. �What did you do with Ryou?�
Bakura leaned in close to him, whispering. �Here, let me show you.�
He kissed Jou softly, seductively licking the golden blond�s lips with a tiny flick of his tongue. He had known that Jou must taste sweet, but nothing prepared him for the taste of the boy's lips, so much like honey and yet infinitely sweeter. He could drown in such a pleasurable sensation, and quickly understood Kaiba's possessiveness.

Ah, well. All good things must come to an end. As Jou's surprise began to fade, and he struggled to get away, the Ring flashed once. Immediately, Jou's eyes glazed over, and he slumped against Ryou�s stolen body, the warmth of the blood coursing through his veins the only indication that the blond was still alive.
Bakura left him laying by the quickly diminishing remains of the bonfire, not caring whether he froze to death or not. The message would be sent either way. �Soon, Yugi, I will take my prize," he whispered, striding confidently up toward the house as he tucked the Ring back into his shirt, the bite of the spires sinking into his flesh almost as delicious as the kiss he had stolen from Joey.
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