Jonouchi Katsuya had his head propped up on his arm as he waited for class to start that morning. He was gazing fixedly at a russet-haired teen around his own age at a desk some three rows away, in the back left hand corner of the cramped classroom.

The student in question was sitting in his desk in that left hand corner of the classroom reading a novel. Jonouchi couldn't make out the title – it was in French or something. There was a relaxed air about him, an air that one seldom felt emanating from the young man, as he usually was sensed as being cold and arrogant. But that morning was different, Jonouchi mused, that morning this person for whom he had pined for ever since he had seen his face appear (however briefly) on the 6:00 news some thirteen months prior, was seemingly happy about something.

Well, if not happy, then at least pleased or even satisfied. Jonouchi didn't know what it was – the company the young man owned wasn't doing too well, his younger brother was home sick with strep throat, and Jonouchi had heard that his dry cleaning had come back mangled. What was there to be happy for,o great Seto Kaiba?

"Class, your attention please," The teacher called as he stepped through the doorway into the chattering classroom. The brouhaha died away and then as fast as a whip cracks, Seto Kaiba snapped his book shut, sat up with perfect posture at his desk, folded his long, slim fingers together and stared violently back at Jonouchi with such a passion that Jonouchi at once looked away.

What had that been about? Jonouchi thought as he shuddered slightly, sitting up and feeling the unblinking gaze of the CEO boring into him as the teacher made his announcements.

"This Thursday, rooms 211B and 305A are sponsoring a food drive for a Christmas dinner at a local orphanage," droned the teacher. Was it Jonouchi's imagination, or did Kaiba just sit up a little straighter (if such a thing was possible) at this?

"Also, as you know, the Christian holiday of Christmas is nearly upon us, and seeing as it is only one week away, rooms 211B and 305A are also sponsoring "Epiphyte Evening" and invite you all to come join them at Domino Park December twenty-fourth for 'an exciting, magical, and fun-filled Christmas Eve'."

Some people in the front sniggered, and somebody called out

"What, they want us to play with mistletoe? I think that'd definitely be a" -here they did the 'quotes fingers'- " 'magical, fun-filled Christmas Eve', don't cha think?"

People laughed at this, but the laughing stopped when a raspy voice called out from the back.

"I think," spoke Seto Kaiba, "that it is a wonderful idea, and that it is a chance for the, ah, shall we say less fortunate to go snog the person next to them as they are currently unable to acquire a special someone."

Silence.

"Well, then, that's all for announcements class, you are dismissed," the teacher choked out.

Nobody moved.

Then the bell rang.

Pandemonium.

Amidst all the chaos that morning, Jonouchi caught sight of the corner of a white envelope sticking out of Seto Kaiba's coat pocket. Kaiba, not thinking anyone was watching, gave the envelope a furtive glance as if he were bracing himself for the time that envelope were to be opened.

But Jonouchi was swept out of the room by the mass of people headed the general direction of the door, and didn't notice the small white envelope that appeared in his satchel's front pocket sometime shortly after lunch, the envelope which, if examined closely, very much looked like the small white envelope that had been sticking out of Seto Kaiba's coat pocket that morning...

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LSL: Well, thar goes Chapter one of this short little fic. I do so hope you all enjoyed it, and chapter two will be coming along soon enough!