A/N: After a ridiculously long delay, this concluding chapter is a long lemon, so please enjoy.

Chapter 03: Reconciliations

Yami said nothing as they entered the apartment, although he was curious for the change in plans for returning to the mansion. They hadn't spoken much in the car ride over; anything more than a monosyllabic answer from Kaiba was an accomplishment. He knew that Kaiba was still irritated by his decision to go to dinner with Ogata, but Yami wasn't going to apologize for it—after all, he had done nothing wrong.

The primary reason for Kaiba's silence was that he was trying to get his emotions under control. He knew that he shouldn't lash out at Yami when he was really upset at Ogata, but inside he was still seething over everything—the dinner meeting that had gone badly, Ogata's presumptuousness, Yami's refusal to listen, Sakaguchi's involvement in the whole thing, the fact that Bakura had managed to get to him that badly, and his own shameful behavior. It was all just begging for an outlet and Kaiba almost regretted not taking up Ogata's offer to spar; it would have been an ideal release for all the anger and irritation he was currently suffering from at the moment.

Even after they entered the apartment, Kaiba still said nothing to Yami; he just stalked over to the fridge to get some water. When Kaiba gestured to see if Yami wanted any for himself, the former pharaoh snapped, "Now you're just being ridiculous, Seto."

"Hn," was the only answer Kaiba bothered to give, finally succeeding in pushing Yami over the edge.

"What is your problem?" Yami demanded, completely frustrated by Kaiba's demeanor. "This can't all just be because I had dinner with Katsuro."

"Ogata," Kaiba corrected, not wanting to hear the level of familiarity the two had developed in his absence.

"Seriously?" Yami indignantly questioned. "You're seriously going to tell me what to address my friends by? What's next, you're going to say who I can and can't be friends with?" Sure, Yami knew that he was blowing things way out of proportion with his argument, but it wasn't like Kaiba was being much better about the whole thing.

Placing the water back in the fridge after taking a sip and walking back over to Yami, Kaiba murmured, "If that was the case, you wouldn't see the mutt," before roughly kissing Yami.

Shoving Kaiba off of him, Yami growled in anger, "Knock it off!"

Rather than listening, Kaiba just kissed Yami with more force; after all, if his mouth was otherwise occupied, he couldn't talk such nonsense. Once again, Yami pushed Kaiba away from him and rephrased his previous question, "What the hell is your problem, Seto?"

"You won't shut up," Kaiba replied with a smirk before once again attempting to kiss Yami senseless.

When Yami attempted to push away again, Kaiba grabbed his rival by the waist and crushed him closer, refusing to let him go. It irritated Yami and he continued his struggle, nipping at Kaiba's tongue to try and dissuade him. The attempt backfired and Kaiba continued dominating the kiss, enjoying the roughness in a way he had shied away from ever since the night he had pushed Yami too far.

As much as Yami didn't want to enjoy it, his body was too well attuned to Kaiba's to reject the harsher pleasure. "Damn it, Seto!" Yami snapped, but he was breathless from Kaiba's efforts. "What—?"

Rather than continuing to listen to Yami repeat himself, Kaiba interrupted his indignation by stripping his rival of his shirt. He laughed callously at Yami's undignified sound of protest, causing the former pharaoh to fume angrily at the way he was being treated. Kaiba started backing them toward the bedroom, but Yami continued fighting against it. "No, damn it! I want to talk about—"

"And I'd rather fuck you," Kaiba vulgarly interrupted before slamming Yami against the wall to ravish him properly.

To say that Yami was shocked was an understatement and his objection was stolen away in the next insistent kiss. Yami was annoyed by the way his body mindlessly rutted against Kaiba's thigh that had worked its way between his. The whole thing left him so conflicted; part of him was deeply angered by the treatment, but the other half of him was completely turned on by what was happening. There had always been something thrilling about the darker side of Kaiba, even if Yami knew from experience that he could easily get burned by that same passion. It was tempting to give in to what was happening, but Yami's pride demanded that he continue putting up some sort of fight.

When Yami's hands started to put some distance between them once more, Kaiba captured his wrists and used them to completely pin his rival against the wall. The action brought their bodies even closer together and Kaiba smirked when he felt Yami's growing hardness between them. "That doesn't mean anything," Yami muttered, pressing himself closer to the wall as if that would somehow make a difference.

"Bullshit," Kaiba replied, finally moving on to Yami's neck with a kiss that was disconcertingly tender by comparison to his previous actions.

Sighing in irritation, Yami retorted, "No, what's bullshit is how you're acting,"

"Would you rather have me stop?" Kaiba murmured in a lower tone, the one that was devastatingly sexy and made Yami weak in the knees every time. Yami's body shivered in pleasure as Kaiba started to suck on his earlobe while grinding against him.

Yami accidentally keened low in his throat, sounding more than a little needy as his body continued to respond to Kaiba. "Was that a no?" Kaiba pressed, lightly tugging on Yami's earlobe with his teeth.

"Don't think this gets you out of the conversation," Yami warned, even as he conceded for the time being. Even though Yami knew that Ogata was an issue that needed to be dealt with, it wasn't like Kaiba was willing to listen at the moment.

"Wouldn't dream of it," Kaiba muttered sarcastically, stepping away from Yami and confusing the teen.

Unbuttoning his shirt as he walked into the bedroom, Kaiba threw his suit jacket and shirt to the floor. Although Yami was puzzled by the sudden switch in pace, he followed Kaiba into the room, turning on the light as he did so. Figuring that he was too committed to stop halfway, Yami walked over to Kaiba and started to undo his belt buckle. Quickly sliding it from the loops, it released with a resounding crack that made Kaiba instinctively flinch from the accompanying memories that he tried to push down as immediately as they had surfaced.

The action hadn't gone unnoticed by Yami and he looked up at Kaiba questioningly, unable to ask what he wanted. Kaiba took the belt from Yami's hands and threw it aside, not willing to dwell on the matter anymore than he already had. Instead, he started to work Yami out of his pants, even as the scarlet eyed teen was toeing off his socks at the same time.

Before Yami could return the favor, Kaiba was already naked and pressing their bodies closer, reassuring himself with the contact. Hiding his face in Yami's hair, Kaiba took a moment to collect himself, nuzzling his lover they embraced. Yami was completely confused by the change in demeanor and his mind was trying to find the connection between the aggressive and almost reverent way he was being treated. Wrapping his arms around Kaiba, Yami held him tightly; he didn't need to understand to know what was needed from him.

They stood that way for a time, even though part of Yami's mind was objecting at how utterly ridiculous it was. It didn't stop him from stroking the back of Kaiba's neck in an unspoken attempt at comfort, making Yami smile when the action was silently acquiesced to. "Seto…?" Yami hesitantly asked, looking for some sort of hint as to what he should do next.

It made Kaiba aware of his lapse in judgment and he pulled back just enough to kiss Yami once more, insistently demanding entrance into his mouth. Pleased when Yami offered no resistance, Kaiba once again started backing them toward the bed, his actions getting more frenzied with every step, as if there had never been any break in their actions at all. It confused the hell out of Yami, but he wasn't given long to think about it when the back of his knees hit bumped against the bed.

Roughly pushing Yami onto the bed, Kaiba was on him in an instant, once again claiming him in a demanding kiss. Every time Yami tried to protest that they should move up further on the bed, he wasn't given the chance to say anything. It was only when Kaiba stopped to get the lube that Yami had the chance to move closer to the headboard before the brunette was back on top of him.

Yami was surprised when he felt Kaiba's slicked fingers circling his opening, slowly teasing him with what was to come. Kissing Yami's inner thigh, Kaiba slid in a finger, his normal objections absent from his mind. The feral part of Kaiba's mind was growling that Yami was his to claim and nobody—especially not Ogata—was going to take him away. Even though the rational part of Kaiba knew that Ogata wasn't stupid enough to try and take Yami for his own, there was that small insecure part of Kaiba that wouldn't be soothed by logic. People had always tried to take everyone and everything important to Kaiba away and he wouldn't have peace of mind until he was buried to the hilt in Yami, the place where only he belonged.

Yami's own impatience was building as Kaiba slowly stretched him while kissing his thighs, his hips, anywhere except where the former pharaoh really wanted to be touched. Making tiny noises of frustration as his body instinctively moved with Kaiba's fingers, Yami shuddered when he felt a ghosting touch by the place that would make him moan.

When Kaiba finally deemed Yami to be ready, he withdrew his fingers and scowled when he realized he had nothing to wipe them off with, causing his rival to snicker knowingly. "Oh, shut up," Kaiba muttered as he got up to go grab a towel; maid service wasn't as frequent at the apartment since he rarely used it and he didn't want to risk the sheets staining in the interim.

Bringing the towel with him when he returned to the bedroom, Kaiba dropped it on the floor and took a moment to appreciate the view of Yami sprawled on the bed, flushed with want as he softly keened for more. It was enough to get Kaiba to act and he once again crawled on top of Yami, his mind feeling a little bit clearer.

The moment didn't last long; it disappeared as soon as he was surrounded by Yami's welcoming warmth and Kaiba existed on instincts. Although he started off slow, when Kaiba felt Yami wrap his legs around his waist, he sped up to a harder and faster pace. It was a release for all of his former conflicts and it was a hell of a lot more satisfying than pummeling the shit out of Ogata.

Yami gasped at the strength Kaiba was using, his body arching under the intensity. After dealing with a more restrained Kaiba for so long, it was a welcome pleasure and Yami moaned his approval as he held on and shuddered. He cried out, "Seto," when Kaiba shifted his hips just so and struck that place deep inside Yami and it seemed to spur the brunette on even more.

"Yes," Kaiba hissed, loving the sound of his name on Yami's lips in a moment of pleasure.

As they continued, it became harder to Yami to form words and he was reduced to loud moans and broken words, eventually encouraging, "More," and almost shouting when he got what he asked for and then some. It drew sounds out of Kaiba that he normally refrained from making and Yami could only hope the neighbors downstairs couldn't hear them, but he was too far gone to truly care.

Kaiba found himself growling Yami's name with an aggressive need that was feeding off of his physical ache, a ridiculous need to be even closer to Yami than he already was. Even after Yami came hard while calling out, "Seto," it still wasn't enough for Kaiba. He was fueling his everything into his actions, gripping Yami's hips with an almost bruising force, but there wasn't a single protest uttered.

Kaiba finally climaxed with Yami's name on his lips before finally collapsing with a satisfied moan, having enough wherewithal not to crush his rival under his weight. Although Yami finally put his legs down on the bed, he continued embracing Kaiba, his hands stroking in an absentminded pattern.

When Kaiba said nothing, Yami teased, "Feel better now?"

"Mm," Kaiba muttered as he pulled out and further settled against Yami's side. It was an unusual position since normally it was Yami who was curled up on him, but Kaiba didn't feel like moving just yet. Instead, he just draped his free arm over Yami's chest and sighed softly, closing his eyes as he tried to gather his bearings.

As the minutes passed, Yami was afraid that Kaiba was going to fall asleep, despite how ridiculous the concept might have been. Trying to stir Kaiba, Yami softly said, "Seto," and felt a little bad when it caused the brunette to sigh heavily.

"I know I'm being ridiculous," Kaiba muttered. "I don't need you to say anything."

"I just want to understand," Yami explained, lightly running his hand along Kaiba's arm.

It was too weird to have that kind of conversation in such a position, so Kaiba rolled away onto his back, even though a tiny part of him was protesting over giving up such comfort. "I hate him. What's so hard to understand about that?"

Turning onto his side and propping himself up on his elbow to better see Kaiba, Yami pointed out, "You don't actually hate him."

"He's fucking irritating," Kaiba growled, giving Yami an annoyed glare for not believing him. "He just doesn't know when to quit running off his mouth."

"It's not like he said anything about you," Yami tried to reassure Kaiba.

"Bullshit," Kaiba immediately refuted. "You seriously expect me to believe that in all of those hours, I never came up?"

Even though it was inappropriate, Yami couldn't hold back his laughter. Yami knew what Kaiba had meant by his statement, but it sounded to egotistical that it was too amusing not to react. Kaiba looked rather put out over the reaction and Yami started to apologize, "I'm sorry, it's just that—"

"You know what I meant," Kaiba snapped, not placated by Yami's kiss on his cheek.

Straddling himself over Kaiba, Yami looked down at him with fondness as he continued trying to rectify the damage from his rash reaction, "I do, but the way that sounded—"

"I know how it sounded!"

Frowning slightly at Kaiba's tone, Yami asked, "So what's the real problem?"

While it was true that Kaiba was primarily angry about Ogata, it didn't help that his meeting had gone poorly. It never failed to piss off Kaiba when people refused to take him seriously because of his age, although it made it all the more satisfying to crush them in the end. So to have Ogata blow him off and then have Yami treat it like nothing, Kaiba couldn't stamp out his ego's reaction to the multiple slights. "I didn't mean to take it out on you," Kaiba finally apologized, surprising them both with his begrudging admission.

It was more than Yami had been expecting, despite the fact that it didn't exactly answer his question. "Look, all he told me was where you met, how you used to play chess together, and that he started working for you despite you not wanting him to," Yami told Kaiba, hoping it would ease whatever he was so worried about Ogata revealing. "It's not like I was trying to use him to find out anything about you, Seto."

Even though it annoyed him to admit it, Kaiba knew that Yami wasn't the kind of person to try and pry information out of someone else; he was too respectful and honorable for that. It still didn't stop his instant reaction, but it was stranger for Kaiba to recognize the trust he had in Yami in that regard. "The past should stay in the past," Kaiba muttered, wishing not for the first time that he could relegate Ogata there for good some days. "He's just…an unpleasant reminder."

"Of your time at the orphanage?" Yami hesitantly asked, having never really spoken of the topic with Kaiba to know how he would react.

"Mm," Kaiba confirmed, but said no more on the subject. What else was there to say?

"Despite the way he acts, he would do anything for you," Yami found himself defending Ogata for lack of anything else to add.

Sneering slightly, Kaiba snorted, "I'm sure," knowing just what types of things Ogata would like to do to him if given the chance. The bastard doesn't exactly do subtle, he thought with a mental roll of his eyes for good measure.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Yami questioned, feeling like he was missing something crucial that would explain Kaiba's tone.

Realizing his slip, Kaiba took a moment to compose himself and gather his thoughts. "Don't worry about it," Kaiba told him, wanting to be done with the awkward conversation. Even when Ogata wasn't around, he still found a way to cause problems.

"Are you going to try and ban me from seeing him again?" Yami asked, still not entirely comfortable with dropping the subject.

"What's the point?" Kaiba asked as he ran his fingers through his hair before dropping his arm back down onto the bed. "Neither one of you would listen to me, anyway."

"Is that the only reason why?"

"No," Kaiba admitted with another soft sigh, uncomfortable with the thought of them, but recognizing that there was nothing he could do about it. "But I swear, if he ever touches you—ever does anything to you—"

"He's not going to," Yami confidently predicted, knowing that for all of Ogata's talk, he was loyal and respectful enough to not do such a thing. "Besides, I don't know why you're so worried. I'm with you and it's not like he's interested in me like that, anyway."

Rolling his eyes at Yami's naivety, Kaiba scornfully said, "That doesn't matter. He's interested in anyone pretty that has a pulse."

"Wait, did you just call me pretty?" Yami asked with a laugh, thoroughly amused by the way Kaiba blanched slightly at the slip up in phrase.

"Whatever," Kaiba dismissively responded, displeased by the way Yami was still snickering. "I don't know why you're so damned amused."

Even though the issue hadn't exactly been resolved, Yami felt like the tension had at the very least been alleviated. He knew that the issue was bigger than just a jealous insecurity, but Yami also knew that Kaiba wouldn't open up about it until he was ready. "I just am," Yami finally said before kissing Kaiba one more time and then sliding off of him and out of bed before impishly adding, "plus it means he'd be interested in you, too."

"Wait, are you calling me pretty?" Kaiba indignantly demanded as he followed Yami into the bathroom for some retribution.

"Yeah, what about it?" Yami purred with a playful wink.

"Get back here," Kaiba growled as Yami disappeared into the shower with a laugh, turning on the water. "You do not get to call me that!"

Despite the earlier heaviness of their evening, Yami felt relieved to see the almost playful look in Kaiba's eyes that obliterated the earlier traces of shadows. It encouraged him to continue teasing, "Does 'handsome' make you feel more masculine?"

Kaiba knew that he had gotten off easy, which naturally made him somewhat suspicious. However, Yami genuinely seemed okay and that was all that mattered to Kaiba as he tried to restart their evening on a better note, indulging in passionate kiss once he finally captured the former pharaoh and murmured, "I'll show you what makes me feel more masculine..."

Yami's laugh melted into a moan as Kaiba's hands started to wander, making good on his promise.

A/N: And after a ridiculous delay, this concludes this arc of Entangled. I know it took a long time, far longer than any three chapter fic has ever taken me, and I apologize for the delay and appreciate your patience. This story has a lot of strange associations for me because of what I was going through when I was writing it, which is a terrible reason not to update it, but a lot has changed for me since then. I guess we should all just be glad I don't post at this speed on my regular stories, ne?

I know some of you probably think that I've abandoned this series, but that is completely untrue. I still have a lot of plans for this series, but I want to finish AA and Forbidden before returning to this one properly.

So unfortunately, I can't give a specific date for the next update to this series, but I can tell you that Entangled Series 10 will be a oneshot that is very, "Awww," worthy. It is yet untitlted, but the barebones plot is that Kaiba gives Yami a very special gift. Definitely a story for the romantics to enjoy.

Hopefully it won't be too much longer, though. Summer is just around the corner, so I should be freeing up some more time to write without the commute and classes to eat up so much time.

Anyway, Sunday, May 2nd, will be the next chapter of Forbidden, so if you're following that story, it's going to be a major turning point in the story.