Chapter Text
Had...had he lost? No, this didn't count, did it? It can't.
"What's wrong, Seto?" Kaiba's gaze shot up from the scattered cards to the smug man across from him. This man, this thing, he said his name in such a way that left him breathless.
"Shut up." Kaiba growled, standing abruptly. The man across from him propped his chin on his hand, staring holes into Kaiba.
"Is someone mad he lost?" He was so smug. The duel couldn't have counted. It wasn't fair. Kaiba glared daggers at him, absolutely livid.
"No. I'm not." Kaiba declared, looking away from the man. He finally stood from his chair. There was something different. This thing was not Yugi. It couldn't be. There was a dark aura that you could practically see. Not Yugi strode across the room to Kaiba, getting a tad too close for comfort.
"Are you sure?" Not Yugi grinned, an absolutely evil grin. Kaiba shuddered, not being able to look Not Yugi in the eyes. Something about the shorter man made Kaiba uncomfortable.
"Yes. I'm sure." Kaiba growled. Not Yugi's grin dropped. The room suddenly became deafeningly silent.
"Don't lie to me, Seto. I know what you're thinking." A bolt of seething anger ran down Kaiba's spine.
"Don't call me that!" He growled, pushing Not Yugi away from him as he stormed towards the door, "You know nothing about me!" He slammed the door shut behind him, leaving Not Yugi alone. Not Yugi stared at the door, a little taken aback at Kaiba's action.
"Hm, don't be so sure." Not Yugi grinned evilly, speaking to no one in particular, leaving the room himself.
In the following days, Kaiba was now on complete guard when he was around Yugi's friends. He didn't trust Yugi and he never would again. He continued to sneak side glances at Yugi in classes and very easily avoided the smaller male. Most of the time when Yugi approached him, he found a swift way to dismiss himself before he had to actually speak to Yugi.
Yugi frowned as he saw Kaiba's gaze flick over to him and then quickly turn heel and stride off. Yugi paused where he stood, very confused on why his friend was ignoring him.
"Partner?" Yami's unmistakable voice broke the silence. Yugi glanced up to the spirit.
"Oh, hi, Yami..." Yugi greeted as he headed down the hall. Yami tilted his head to the side.
"Is something the matter? You seem down." He questioned. Yugi nodded, still frowning.
"Kaiba-kun has been ignoring me all week. I think he's mad at me." Yami frowned slightly as well.
"Perhaps the man is going through some things at home?" Yami offered. Yugi shrugged.
"Maybe..." he muttered. Yami furrowed his brows together. He knew Kaiba could be a bitch but Yami had never seen him right out ignore someone.
"I can talk to him for you." He suddenly offered, causing Yugi to look up at him.
"Are you sure? Would that even work? I don't think he's aware you exist." Yugi spoke. Yami shrugged.
"We'll never know unless we try"
Ignoring Yugi had to be one of the best decisions Kaiba had ever made. It made his life all the more peaceful. He could finally spend more time working than being dragged around by Yugi and the Nerd Herd. He could spend his free-time at home working for his company.
It was finally quiet.
Until.
"You've been ignoring us, Seto." A gruff voice shook him from his thoughts. Seto practically jumped out of his chair, spinning around to face Yugi-no, it wasn't the Yugi he knew.
It was his Yugi.
The other one.
"What do you want?" Seto growled, glaring at Not Yugi. Not Yugi grinned at him, but it wasn't a normal grin. It seemed forced and unsettling. Not Yugi took a step closer to him, reaching out a hand. Kaiba automatically grabbed onto his wrist, digging his nails into Not Yugi's flesh. Not Yugi had absolutely no reaction.
"You've been ignoring us." He stated again. Kaiba shifted his weight between his feet. Something about this thing made it feel like he couldn't breathe whenever he was around.
"And? I have plenty of good reasons." Kaiba claimed, trying to hide the slight quiver in his voice. Not Yugi raised an eyebrow, his grin spreading further.
"You really think so?" Not Yugi questioned, hand slinking higher up Kaiba's arm. Kaiba swallowed and finally pulled away, backing away to put plenty of distance between the two of them.
"Yes." He growled, crossing his arms and glaring at Not Yugi, "You're lucky I haven't called the police on you. You're on private property." Not Yugi glanced around, acting like this was new information to him.
"No? Really? I hadn't noticed." Not Yugi spoke sarcastically, taking a step forward towards Kaiba again which caused Kaiba to step back again. Not Yugi grinned sadistically.
"Are you afraid?" He questioned, eyes wide with sadistic glee. Kaiba scowled at Not Yugi.
"I would never feel such an emotion." He declared. Not Yugi hummed, seemingly not believing Kaiba.
"Sure, whatever you say, Se-"
"Do not call me that."
"Whatever you say, Kaiba, but I still want answers." Not Yugi corrected, "Why have you been ignoring us?" The sudden dip in tone sent a shiver down Kaiba's spine.
"You...can't just come here and demand answers." Kaiba growled, slight waver in his voice. Not Yugi smirked, stepping forward. Kaiba shuddered.
"I can do whatever I fucking please." Not Yugi commented, placing a hand on his hip, "All I want is to know why you're ignoring us and then I'll leave. Maybe." Kaiba shot Not Yugi a glare.
"Listen, Yu-"
"Yami."
"What?"
"My name, It's Yami." Kaiba gave Not Yugi a confused look, raising an eyebrow.
"You think I care?" He questioned. Yami nodded.
"You're enamored with me. I'm certain you'd care to know my name." He retorted, grinning.
"I am not enamored with you. I'm merely upset that you beat me."
"Still?!" A soft laugh fell from Yami's lips which made Kaiba's cheeks warm for unknown reasons. Yami took a swift step forward and grasped Kaiba by his shoulders.
"Is that why you're ignoring us, S-Kaiba?" He asked, voice taking on a sudden change to softness. Kaiba could barely stop himself from relaxing into the other man's grasp.
"Yes," Kaiba breathed, finding it harder to lie or avoid the questions, "and..."
"And?"
"You. You're...You're..." Did he have a good reason to fear Yami? He couldn't remember. Yami tilted his head to the side and leaned closer. Kaiba's breath hitched and he put his hands against Yami's shoulders, keeping him at a distance.
"I'm what, Seto?" A smirk cracked across Yami's face, noticing the other man's reactions. Kaiba shook his head and finally pushed Yami away, shoving him forcefully. Yami's back hit against Kaiba's desk, causing him to wince in pain.
"What the fuck?!" he growled, glaring at Kaiba. Kaiba glared right back at him, fixing his tousled dress-shirt.
"You have no right to be touching me, Yugi." he spat. Yami felt a spark of anger run down his spine. He bit back every urge to jump at Kaiba and tear his skin off. Yami took a deep breath, composing himself.
"My name is still Yami." He corrected, standing up straight and leaning against Kaiba's desk nonchalantly as if he didn't want to viciously murder the other male
"I'm not calling you that." Kaiba stated, crossing his arms.
"What if I asked nicely?" Yami smirked, raising an eyebrow.
"No. You can't make me do shit." Kaiba hissed, glaring daggers into Yami.
"You're so mean to me," Yami teased, mock offensive covering his features. He shot Kaiba a smirk but it faded quickly when he realized the other man wasn't finding him funny.
"Whatever. I got what I wanted." Yami pushed past Kaiba, shoving forcefully away and shooting him a glare, "I'll see you tomorrow at school." He quickly opened the window and stuck his tongue out at Kaiba before jumping out the open window.
Kaiba was dumbfounded and confused. He stood still, grasping onto his bed frame from when he was shoved. Soon, he recollected his thoughts from the constant cold wind lapping against his cheeks. He shakily walked to the window and dared to look out.
Shockingly, there wasn't anything or anyone outside.
Kaiba sighed and closed the window, leaning against as his mind raced with questions about what just happened. It was so confusing. His body was still warm from where Yami's hands had brushed against his shoulders. Whatever this feeling was, he certainly didn't like it.
It felt like poison to his veins.
Kaiba shuddered when his mind continued to race back to Yami. He genuinely worried for tomorrow. So much worry that he couldn't even fall asleep.
He laid awake and stiff until the sun beamed into his eyes.