Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh tisn't mine.

A/N: A series of inter-connected drabbles set in the "Never" universe. For the "10 passions" challenge on livejournal.

13. Farewell

Mokuba dislikes saying goodbye to Nisama, even for something as mundane as a two-day trip to Osaka, and he pouts until Nisama agrees to take him.

He says a silent farewell to Domino as the train speeds out of the station, squeezing Nisama's hand in a surge of anticipation.

"Vacation," he says in sing-song.

"Business," Nisama reminds him.

They're sitting close together but not too close for brothers, and none of the train's other passengers can see their joined hands, tucked into Nisama's trouser pocket.

And Mokuba's already thinking of tonight, the way their bodies will entangle.

Like their fingers.

12. Loving Embrace

They have a business dinner right after they arrive and that means Mokuba must smile and smile and drink and smile some more. Agree with Nisama in all the appropriate places and compliment (but never too extravagantly, mind) the woman sitting next to him.

When it's all over, Mokuba slumps against Nisama on the elevator ride to their hotel room. "I had too much to drink," he confesses.

"I noticed," Nisama says, a propriety arm on Mokuba's back.

"Mmm."

And then Nisama's swinging Mokuba up into his arms, and Mokuba's snuggling his head into the scratchy wool of Nisama's suit-coat.

11. Rough Hands

The elevator finally stops at their floor, and Nisama strides remain the same, despite the additional burden of Mokuba. Nisama unlocks their door and kicks it closed behind him. He then deposits Mokuba onto one of the hotel room's beds.

Begins to undress him.

Nisama has rough hands: calloused from years of that man's training. But they feel oh-so-wonderful on Mokuba's skin, slip-sliding beneath the layers of cotton and wool to touch and tease.

Undo.

Mokuba can feel the softness of the bed beneath him and the solid weight of Nisama atop of him.

They kiss each other breathless.

10. The Road Back to You

The next morning, Mokuba lounges in bed while Nisama showers, dresses, and attends business coffees, business teas, and a business luncheon.

Mokuba takes tea with toast and relishes the sweet ache in his backside.

But, eventually, he rises, showers, and dresses. Waits.

For Nisama said that the afternoon would be just for the two of them, and after laughing himself silly over the implausibility of the latest NHK dramas, he's up and greeting Nisama in the foyer of their hotel room when he hears the key turn in the lock.

"I'm all yours," Nisama promises as Mokuba kisses him hello.

9. Starry Heavens

Dusk falls while they're still on the Osaka Castle grounds. Mokuba's had very enjoyable afternoon, playing the wide-eyed tourist and tasting all of Osaka's delicacies from the street vendors.

Nisama has that fond little smile on his lips, the one that says he's actually content for once, and Mokuba is glad that he convinced his brother to let him come on the trip.

He tugs on his brother's sleeve. "Orihime's getting closer to Hikoboshi," Mokuba says in a conspiring whisper.

"Oh?" Nisama quirks a brow.

They face each other: the heat of their bodies reminding them of their own closeness.

8. The Space Between Us

It's dark, and they should really be getting back, but they'd rather press up against each other.

"There's still too much space between us," Mokuba mumbles into Nisama's neck. He's leaving marks as he sucks at the skin, but so long as Nisama continues to wear collared shirts, they'll remain almost invisible.

"Shh," Nisama croons as he pushes a thigh between Mokuba's leg.

And all of Mokuba's complaints turns to moans Nisama's hands on Mokuba's hips help him rock back and forth, creating a burning sweet friction.

Mokuba feels the press of Nisama against his hip. Revels in it.

"Nisama!"

7. Don't Be Afraid

All too soon, they're back in Domino.

Back to their established routines of Nisama working himself to death and Mokuba attempting to remind Nisama that there are things other than Kaiba Corp.

But Nisama's getting better, Mokuba thinks. Since Valentine's Day, Mokuba''s stopped being so fearful of Nisama falling asleep behind the wheel on the drive home.

Of having to identify the mangled body at the morgue.

He's grown used to Nisama easing into bed only a little after midnight. Of greeting him with a sloppy kiss and maybe sloppy lovemaking.

Of holding him tight and never letting him go.

6. Addicted to Your Touch

Nisama's on the phone yelling at the idiots at one of the plants, and Mokuba's running interference for the rest of the office. Because no one dares approach Nisama when he's in such a mood.

At lunch, he brings Nisama lunch from the shop round the corner, carefully oh-so-carefully kneading the tension out of those broad shoulders.

And Nisama isn't kicking him out, so Mokuba thinks that he's done his job well, all things considering.

He stays curled up in Nisama's lap for the rest of the afternoon, sometimes drowsing and sometimes not, giving out butterfly-light touches and comforting murmurs.

5. His Place

For his birthday, Nisama buys him an apartment.

It's small and in one of Domino's trendier districts, and Mokuba absolutely adores it.

He decorates it in sharp contrast to the cold, well-proportioned beauty of the Kaiba mansion. Instead, there are bursts of colour; antiques nestled up to the modern; pockets of kitsch just for the hell of it.

Fills it up with his love.

Best of all, it's within walking distance of Kaiba Corp, and he can almost always get Nisama to take a break for a piping hot, homemade meal or a few minutes' rest in a comfortable chair.

4. Hidden from the World

"I love this place," Mokuba tells Nisama, but what he means is I love you.

Nisama's head is pillowed in Mokuba's lap, and Mokuba is lazily playing with Nisama's hair, attempting to tease a few of Nisama's natural waves out of the gel.

"Mmm," Nisama agrees, running a thumb up and down the inside of Mokuba's thigh. They've spent the day abed, formally breaking in Mokuba's new futon for the apartment.

They're not actually living there, of course, but it's so nice to have a place where no one can easily find them. Where even Nisama's cell-phone is turned off.

3. Sarcasm

Mokuba finds himself needing the safe haven of his apartment even more after Nisama hires a new director of marketing.

He's blunt with a sarcastic edge to his words that (of course) Nisama approves of.

But he never listens to Mokuba, never takes Mokuba seriously, despite the fact Mokuba is the vice president.

He doesn't want to bother Nisama with it, but inside – oh, inside – he burns with a passionate hatred for one Fujiwara Sanjiro.

Nisama knows something's wrong, but he doesn't push, only holds Mokuba tight.

Kisses him like he's the most precious thing in the world.

2. Along the Moonlit Bay

"Let's go out," Mokuba says one night, wired after a long afternoon of coffee and paperwork.

"Just one more column," Nisama protests, but Mokuba's already on his feet and fetching a sweatshirt because the night had turned cool.

They're at the mansion and that means a vast expanse of private land overlooking Domino harbor. And it's a full moon, and summer's slowing turning to autumn, and Mokuba realizes that he's never had such a good summer.

Wishes on the moonlight reflecting on the water to have just as good an autumn, and Nisama good-naturedly teases him for being so superstitious.

1. Secret Encounter

The next morning, their good mood is still almost a palatable thing, riding the air between them.

The usually harassed office ladies are smiling their thanks whenever they pass by Mokuba's desk, and even Reiko leans over and whispers, "Geez, Mokuba, what'd you do to him? He's almost normal, today."

Their praise makes Mokuba daring, more daring than he usually is, and he steals kisses from Nisama when the two of them are in the washroom.

And Nisama doesn't push him away with a scowl and a hiss of, "Not here," but kisses him back, mouth tasting coffee and toothpaste.