Rowan: Eee! A Jou*Yami fic!

Sakura: You're pairing the mutt with my prince?

Rowan: Better than Yami and Anzu though, right? And don't call him 'mutt.' Only Seto calls him that.

Sakura: True, it is better than Anzu.

Rowan: Oh, but I just remembered…On second thought Sakura, you probably won't like this fic.

Sakura: Oh no, you're gonna have Anzu date Yami, aren't you?

Rowan: Hehehe…

Sakura: Eep! You are! I'm outta here!

Rowan: Er, riight…

Disclaimer: Once upon a time, a brilliant person created an amazing anime/manga called YuGiOh! It went on to become extremely successful and made this person very rich. Unfortunately, that person is not me.

Not me: That's right! I created it! I'm a genius!

Rowan: I meant that I, Rowan, did not create it!

Warning: Um, some shonoun-ai, which is boy/boy fluff and such. If you don't like, I suggest you leave now. And if you don't (leave even though you don't like), well, don't say I didn't warn you.

A Love Denied

Chapter 1: Fatal Fall

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It was a beautiful spring morning as Jounouchi Katsuya walked to the game shop where he was to meet his friends. Flowers were blooming, trees were blossoming, and love was in the air. Little did Jou know that he was soon to be under that spell, the curse and blessing of all who have ever loved or been loved before.

Jou walked into the store where Motou Yuugi was waiting for him. "You're early Jou," he said.

"No I'm not! I'm right on time!" And Jou was, for the clock had just struck ten o'clock.

"I know. But the others will be late, so technically you're early."

Jou sat down on the stool behind the counter and sighed. He still couldn't quite get used to the way Yuugi could know the future before it had even occurred. Yuugi had been doing that ever since he had received the Millenium Tauk from Isis during Battle City.

Yuugi smiled up at his friend's troubled face. "I'm glad you got here first, for there's someone I want you to meet!" Yuugi grabbed Jou's hand and pulled him into the living room where Jou's eyes met brilliant ruby ones. Jou's breath caught in his throat as he stared at the beauty before him. Such grace, such power, such regality Jou had never seen. Jou felt his heart turn over in his chest.

"Well, actually, you've met before, but when we used to share a body. Jou, this is Yami."

Yami smiled, a cool, confident smile. "Hi Jou! Isn't it great? Yuugi and I finally have separate bodies!"

Jou managed a weak smile. "Y-yes. Th-that's wonderful Yami, Yuugi. E-excuse me, but I have to sit down."

Jou collapsed on the couch as his knees buckled beneath him. Yuugi glanced over at his friend, concerned. "Jou? Are you all right? Can I get you some water?"

"I'm fine. I just, um, skipped breakfast is all."

"Would you like something to eat?" Yuugi offered.

"No, don't trouble yourself. I'll be fine, really." 'If I could only stop those butterflies in my stomach,' he added silently.

Yami walked over to sit next to Jou. "You sure you're alright Jou?"

Jou nodded, avoiding Yami's eyes and feeling a faint blush color his cheeks as he realized just how close Yami was sitting next to him.

"Y-yes. Perfectly n-normal, thanks."

Just then, the door to the shop opened and Anzu and Honda, followed closely by Ryou, came in. Next to the white haired teen stood a stranger wearing a hood. Yuugi ushered them all into the living room.

"Guys, guess what? Yami got his own body today!" Yuugi announced cheerfully.

Ryou smiled. "That's excellent! Same with Bakura and I!" he said, gesturing to the stranger, who removed his hood and revealed long white tresses of white and a scowl.

"I wonder what it all means?" Yuugi mused.

"Well, shouldn't we be going?" Honda inquired. "The movie starts in half an hour."

"Sure, let's!" Yuugi said, walking to the door.

Yami stood up and offered Jou his hand. "Need help up?" he asked.

"Uh, thanks Yami," Jou said, slipping his hand into the other's and standing up shakily. Yami flashed a brilliant smile at the blonde, making him melt inside. Then they turned and followed the others.

~*~~*~

The movie they were watching had been Honda's choice, and Jou knew immediately that he would be closing his eyes a lot. Honda always went for the horror films and today he had picked "28 Days Later" (I heard it was mad scary, but I didn't see it, so I won't give any details about what's happening on the screen.) Jou made sure to sit next to Yuugi, as he knew his friend would need something to hide his face on if anything got too gruesome, and he seemed to favor Jou's shoulder over anything else. Also, it was comforting for Jou to know he wasn't the only one scared.

As all seven of them filed into the theater and took their seats, Jou found himself sitting between the twin spiky-haired teens, Yuugi on his left and Yami, confident, unshakable Yami, on his right. On the other side of Yami sat Anzu, while to Yuugi's left were Ryou, Bakura, and Honda.

The film started soon after their arrival, and Jou soon felt Yuugi's head on his shoulder. Jou didn't blame him, he too was terrified. So terrified that his popcorn sat in his lap, utterly forgotten. Not that Jou could've eaten it anyway, what with Yami next to him.

At one particularly gruesome part, Jou turned his head away and his eyes landed on Yami's shoulder. How he would just love to bury his head there, just like Yuugi was hiding his face on Jou's shoulder. Yami, sensing Jou's fear, turned and glanced at him, smiling reassuringly. Jou felt something squeeze his hand, and, looking down, found it to be the Pharaoh's hand. Jou felt shivers run down his spine at the contact. He smiled shakily back at Yami.

Jou was very much relieved when the movie ended. "That movie was very scary, huh Yuugi?"

Yuugi nodded. "Oh yeah."

"That movie was da bomb!" exclaimed Honda.

Anzu was shaking like a leaf. "Oh dear, I think I've been scarred for life! I just know I'll be having nightmares for at least a month!"

Yami hugged Anzu reassuringly. "I'm sure you won't have nightmares for that long. Besides, it's just a movie. It's not real."

Jou felt himself flare up inside when he saw Yami comforting Anzu and almost boiled over when he saw Anzu kiss him on the cheek, fluttering her eyelashes flirtatiously. 'He's mine, Goddammit!' he thought in frustration. 'Wait, mine? Who are you kidding Katsuya? He's not yours. He probably will never be yours. So get over this jealousy. It'll do you no good.'

Jou knew his conscience was right. Yami wasn't 'his.' Whatever provoked such an idea? Jou sighed inwardly. 'Why did I have to fall for Yami?' he thought in despair.

"Jou? Jou! Earth to Jou!" Yuugi said worriedly.

"Eh? What? Yes Yuugi?"

"You were spacing out on us. Ryou just asked where we should go for lunch," Yuugi informed his blonde friend.

"Oh, um, any where's good."

"Oh, I know this really nice café` down the street!" Anzu suggested.

"Sounds good!"

"Lead on Anzu!"

Anzu smiled and slipped her arm around Yami's. "I hope you don't mind escorting me Yami," she said.

"Not at all Anzu," he replied. Anzu beamed and started walking down the street, leading the others.

Jou watched as they started walking away. He was glaring at Anzu's arm, his insides writhing in fury. 'Oh Kami-sama, I've got it bad.'

Yuugi was skipping happily down the street when he realized Jou was still standing in front of the cinema. "Jou, c'mon!" he called. Jou blinked and ran to catch up. Jou smiled down at his friend to assuage his fears, but he felt far from happy.

~*~~*~~*~

Rowan: Seemed like a good place to end that chapter. So, what do you think?

Silence.

Rowan: Nobody's here? Oh, I feel so lonely!

Door swings open.

Rowan: Is somebody there?

Nothing.

Rowan: Just the wind. Phooey.

Mouse walks in.

Rowan: Oh, company!

Scoops mouse up.

Mouse: Excuse, but I'm no ordinary mouse! I'm a mailmouse!

Rowan: What brings you here, mailmouse?

Mailmouse: I have mail for you!

Rowan: Reviews?

Mailmouse: No, a letter. Here you go!

Mailmouse hands letter to Rowan, then hops down and scurries away.

Rowan: Oo, mail. Let's find out what it says:

Letter: Rowan, how could you? How dare you put Yami and Anzu together? I will never forgive you for even thinking about doing that. So, you will no longer see me. Good luck finding another yami. Sincerely, Sakura.

Rowan: Oh, how sad! The only thing sadder would be if I didn't get any reviews for this!