Intertwined fates (book 3)

Chapter 15: evening tutoring

   "No Yugi," Ryou says gently. "You distribute the two here before taking the square root." Yugi grumbles in frustration as he viciously erases a portion of the equation. I frown from my seat beside him as I watch his face glow with frustration. "Do you understand now Yugi?"
   "Yeah." Yugi says in a huff. The lie slipping past his lips with ease.
   /"Aibou? Would you like some help?"/
   /"No offense, but how much help can you really give me? I'm certain that there was no algebra in ancient Egypt."/
   /"You'd be surprised."/
   "Yo Yami! Why are you glaring at yug?"
   "Hm? Oh I'm not glaring this is just my resting expression." I say smoothly. Joey tries to smile but I can see the faint sense of horror in his face. The fact that I have terrified him is slightly pleasing, but unsettling since a pair of ice blue eyes are staring directly into mine. "Is there a reason you are staring?" Yugi Iooks up at me sharply as he realizes who I'm talking to.
   "Do I need a reason?" He replies coolly.
   "Yes."
   /"Yami please stop."/ Yugi pleads.
   /"Why?"/
   /"You don't understand who he is!"/
   "I don't need to explain myself to you." The boy says with a smirk, his brown bangs hanging just above his eyes. "I can do as I please."
   "You're a rather egotistical one aren't you?"
   "I prefer to think of it as proud." He says with a frown.
   "Well I'd like to think of it as the tell tale signs of a bastard."I smirk. The room falls dangerously silent as the two of us continue to stare each other down. Oh gods how I'm enjoying this! I haven't had a decent quarrel with someone since my time as pharaoh. Memories of Seth and his irritated expression float to the forefront of my mind...strange thing is that the more I look at this boy the more of Seth I see. They even share the same ice blue eyes that used to infuriate me as well as console me in my youth.
   "I believe that to be your role to play." The boy smirks back.
   "Hmmm is that so?" I chuckle darkly. "Then I hope I am meeting the requirements sufficiently." The boy chuckles in response, his eyes glowing with the pure enjoyment that I feel. He has a kindred spirit... I like him.
   /"Yugi who is this boy?"/
   /"His name is Seto Kaiba...He is kind of my rival as well as my friend...it's difficult to explain."/
   /"Hmm."/ I hum in response as I continue to stare down this boy. /"He shares a rather shocking resemblance to Seth does he not?"/ Yugi looks at him curiously for a moment. Those cold blue eyes drift down to meet Yugi and Yugi instantly drops his gaze to the floor.
   /"Seth wasn't as cold...but physically they do look similar."/
   /"I thought so."/
   "Oi Kaiba!" Joey calls as he glares down the taller man. "Stop being an ass and just enjoy the company."
   "Be quiet mutt." He hisses. "I was only having a bit of fun."
   "Well your fun is scaring everyone just look at poor yug!" Yugi's face turns a bright scarlet as the weight of everyone's gaze rests on him.
   "Joey I was fine." He mumbles.
   "Joey calm yourself." Honda says from his seat on the floor. "No one's hurt, no one's upset so sit your ass down and be quiet." Joey growls menacingly at Honda before dropping down to the floor in a huff next to Kaiba's legs.
   /"Are they always this lively?"/
   /"Yes."/ Yugi replies immediately. /"The only quiet ones are Ryou and Honda. Joey and Seto are almost always at each other's throats."/ Joey grumbles bitterly under his breath as he refuses to look up at Kaiba's smirking face. /"They hate each other."/
   /"Is that so?"/ Kaiba's eyes continue to stare down at Joey's fuming head as he continues to grumble. A small grin tugs at the corner of Kaiba's lips as he stares down at the fuming boy. If you didn't know where to look you wouldn't see it. /"I wouldn't say they hate one another."/
   Yugi looks up at me confusedly. /"What do you mean?"/
   "Hey guys," Honda interjects. "Not to be rude but the room goes really quiet when you two do your weird mind link thing, so could you possibly speak out loud? Just for us average people."
   /"I'll explain later."/ I promise, Yugi frowns before returning his gaze to Honda.
   "Depends, would it make you happy?" Yugi asks curiously.
   "A little."
   "Then no." Yugi says with a devilish grin before returning to his homework.
   "That's just heartless!" Honda says with a frown. His eyes looking towards me for support.
   "I'm so proud." I say with a crooked grin.
   "Forgive me for saying this, but you're rather terrifying." The small white haired boy named Ryou says.
   "What would you expect from the pharaoh?" Seto replies smoothly. "He's used to always getting what he wants."
   "Hello pot names kettle have we met?" Seto glowers menacingly at me. "You're not responding that means what I said is true...either that or you have nothing smart to say." I chide.
   "Yami." Yugi whispers.
   "Interesting that Yugi would fall in love with someone so sharp tongued."
   "Stop sweet talking me Kaiba. I'm an engaged man."
   "Cute."
   "Bitch I'm adorable."
   "Enough!" Yugi cries out. "No more arguing!" His amethyst eyes glowing with determination. "Either help me with my homework or be silent." Everyone in the room stares at my little Aibou in shock. Apparently no one knew that he was capable of being so stern.
   "My apologies." I murmur to Yugi as well as to Kaiba. Yugi simply says nothing as he erases a majority of the last math problem.
   /"Aibou-"/
   /"Yami I swear if you are going to say something useless right now I will personally make sure that you remain abstinent for years."/ The chilling tone of his words pain me. He is truly angry now. I take a steadying breath before I place a finger on the equation.
   "The answer is fourteen."

   Ryou and Honda had left a few hours ago while Seto and Joey continue to linger in my living room. Seto hasn't spoken a word since Yugi's last outburst while Joey has been trying to coax Yugi back into his usual pleasant manner. It would seem that he isn't having much success in that regard. A single look at Yugi's furious expression as he scratches out wrong answers leads me to believe that Ryou and Honda had the right idea when they fled from here.
   /"Aibou I have a proposition."/
   /"What?"/ Yugi responds curtly. I struggle to keep my expression pleasant as his sharp words cut into me like daggers.
   /"I propose that you take a break from that make up work and we invite Joey and Seto to stay the night."/
   Yugi's frantic scratching across the paper ceases as he turn to look at me in surprise. His eyes narrowed in suspicion as he stares at me.
   /"Do you really mean that?"/ He inquires. /"This isn't some kind of trick?"/
   /"Why would I try to fool you?"/
   /"Because I was acting like a total ass before."/ he says with a sad expression. His eyes glowing with an unspoken apology.
   /"just a tad."/ I tease. "But all is forgiven. Now then, let's have some fun and perhaps you can see what I meant when I said that Seto and joey don't hate one another."/
   /"Now you've captured my interest."/ he says excitedly. I chuckle as he tosses the pencil aside with a clatter, making Joey jump in surprise. Seto laughs quietly at Joey's reaction and is encouraged by a menacing growl that emanates from Joey. "Do you guys want to stay the night? I would really like it if you would, that is if you can do it without smothering the other person in their sleep."
   "I can manage that." Joey says with a smile and a wary glance at Kaiba.
   "I can't make any promises." Seto says with a joking gleam in his eyes. Joey bristles at his words while I can't help but laugh.
   "He's only joking Joey."
   "I don't find that funny." Joey grumbles under his breath while Kaiba watches him intently. Joey catches his gaze for a brief moment and his cheeks tint a light shade of red while Yugi watches in confusion. This should be a rather interesting night indeed.