[Una: Surprised to see me? Yes, Una is back at last, and writing a fun fic separate from anything she s done before. I have been very busy with life, the universe, and everything, and it all drags me away from my writing! See my bio page later this week for more on what s up with my life! Hopefully I can get back into the fray and bring a couple of my closest friends along with me. But more on that later

As for this? This is a short romance on a pairing that, while it is not Canon, I love! It was inspired by another fic of similar premise: Yami and Shizuka talk about Jonouchi. Only I decided to write it from each character s perspective instead of my normal third-person omniscient style. I only have three chapters planned, but I may expand it another chapter if people like it. I shall try to update one week from today.]

PERSPECTIVE

Rating: PG (as of now)
Summary: Shizuka and Yami decide to meet one rainy Saturday to talk.
Pairings: Dragonshipping (YamiXJonouchi), Ardentshipping (HondaXShizuka), Peachshipping (YugiXAnzu)

Chapter 1 - Olive Green

The rain sprinkled gently on the train station in the outskirts of Tokyo as hundreds of men and women hustled and bustled around the platform. Most stood underneath the canopy in the center as they waited to catch their respective trains or else meet with passengers disembarking. No one spoke directly to each other, except to excuse themselves as they ran into each other while seeking shelter.

This is where Kawai Shizuka sat waiting for her brother's friend to arrive from Domino City. Normally, when her brother came to visit her, she waited at home for him to arrive. Her brother's friend, on the other hand, had never been to Tokyo, so she had offered and agreed to wait for him.

It still surprised her that she had agreed to meet with this man whom she had only met over the phone two days ago. She sighed deeply as she recalled the set of circumstances that had led to this...

Shizuka and Katsuya had been separated by their parents some years ago. Her overprotective mother insisted that Shizuka not contact her brother in order to avoid contact with their father. But when her eyesight deteriorated, she reached out to him despite that warning. Not only did Katsuya make sure their father never found out, but he had also earned the money needed to pay for the surgery to save her eyesight. Since then they have spoken to each other over the vid-phone every week, and he always came for a visit once a month.

Honda Hiroto, another friend of her brother's, had been in touch with her quite often since they had met during Battle City. While she did not see him as a possible boyfriend (as her mother seemed to believe), he was a sweet friend and yet another way she could get closer to her brother. And that is what she wanted more than anything else: to be part of her brother's life. In a way she felt responsible for the time they had lost, so she made every attempt to become closer to him.

About three weeks ago - and she could not remember how the subject was brought up - she asked Honda about any girls her brother was interested in. Honda began acting very strangely, and even though he said that her brother "saw a lot of pretty girls," she did not quite believe him. Katsuya was not the type of person to just see "a lot of pretty girls." When Shizuka insisted that he explain, Honda sighed and said, "Look, that's the kind of thing you need to talk to him about. I'm not going to talk about another guy's business like that." THAT statement was even more suspicious than the first!

Shizuka had mulled these words over for several days. She even asked her friends what they thought they might mean. Hideki and Mamouru suggested that maybe her brother had a couple really bad relationships, or else just never talked about it with Honda. But Hotaru suggested something that threw her off even more: Maybe her brother was gay, and Honda-san didn't want her to find out.

Could her brother be gay? It was possible. He didn't seem all that interested in Mai-san romantically, and she was very beautiful. The stigma of the lifestyle didn't faze her. If he were gay, she would love him just as much. She only wanted him to be happy.

But how could she find out?

She could just ask Katsuya flat out, but Shizuka was worried he might get upset or offended if she were wrong. Should she ask Honda-san again? No, he didn't seem to want to tell her. Maybe Anzu-san would know, but then again she may not. After two more weeks of fretting, she decided to ask Yugi-san, her brother's best - and reputably most patient - friend.

But when she called Yugi-san's phone number with her mother s vidphone, another man answered. This man looked a lot like Yugi, except he had red eyes, darker skin, and a much deeper voice. "Kame Game Shop!" He paused. "Shizuka-san?"

Shizuka was startled by this. She had never met this man before. "Umm... Hello. Is Yugi-san home?"

"Sorry, Aibou is out at the moment." His piercing red eyes seemed to freeze her as he searched her face. "Is everything alright?"

"I... I just... Big Brother..." She trailed off. She suddenly felt very foolish for calling one of her brother's friends behind his back to ask such a personal question. If Katsuya had a past he wanted to hide from her, well, maybe they needed to get closer as brother and sister before he shared.

"Shizuka-san?" The man's eyes seemed to soften. He looked friendlier, more compassionate. "If there is anything I can do to help you or your brother, please say so."

"I'm sorry. Um, are you Big Brother's friend, too?"

He appeared to be thrown off by the question, but then he recovered with a small smirk. "Yes. I apologize for not introducing myself. My name is Mutou Yami. I am Yugi's... cousin," he finished, as though unsure of how to define his relation to the group. "Jonouchi-kun and I have been friends for about three years now."

"Oh," she muttered, trying to remember any mention of Yami in her conversations with her brother or Honda-san. "Do you know him well?"

"I like to think so."

"Does he..." Shizuka took a deep breath. She had rehearsed what she was going to say to Yugi, so she may as well ask someone. "Does he get around with a lot of girls?"

Yami blinked several times. "I beg your pardon?"

"I just wanted to know because he never talks about any girls he's interested in and when I've asked him about it he sort of changes the subject or says he doesn't have a girlfriend right now and Honda said something very strange that made my friends think that he is either gay or a player but I don't want to ask him and hurt him or get him mad at me because I love him and I just want to be his sister but I want to be a good sister and... and..." Shizuka had to calm down before she began hyperventilating. She didn't realize until now how scared she had been of ruining her relationship with Katsuya.

"Would you be willing to meet with me?"

It was Shizuka's turn to blink in shock. "What?"

"I would like to talk to you about this further, but I would feel more comfortable discussing it in person." Yami sat forward. "I realize you have a busy schedule, and I am willing to come to you and meet wherever you feel most comfortable."

That conversation had led to them meeting at this busy train station on the following Saturday after her classes. She held her backpack close to her, her books inside weighing heavily on her lap. She really should be working on her homework; her mother expected her to get top grades since she was now an honors student. Instead, she was meeting her brother's friend behind his back to talk to him about... Well, most likely about Katsuya. Moral implications towards her brother aside, she was also meeting with a man! A man she didn't know! It was a good thing her mother would not be home until late tonight. She and Yami could stay in a coffee shop for hours if need be.

Her thoughts were interrupted when the train screeched as it came to a stop. Shizuka stood up, holding onto her umbrella and backpack tightly as another gust of wind blew past. How would she even know Yami anyway if he were wearing a hood?

As though to answer her question, a young man in a red jacket approached her. Even though he wore a hat, one spike of dark red and black hair stuck out awkwardly from underneath. The brim of the hat was lifted slightly to reveal the deepest, reddest eyes she had ever seen; the vidphone did not do them justice! She could not help but gasp as they looked straight into hers.

"Shizuka-san," he greeted in a deep baritone. "Good day to you."

Shizuka cleared her throat and gave a bow. "Nice to meet you, Yami-san."

Yami smirked as though the statement amused him, but gave a polite nod of his head. "And you, Shizuka-san. May I?" He took her backpack and slung it over his shoulder. "Thank you," she said with a smile. The gesture of chivalry was something she associated with her brother.

Yami shivered. "Might we go indoors?"

"Oh!" She had become so transfixed by the strangeness of the situation that she forgot he was still standing in the rain. She quickly moved her umbrella over his head, and they hurried inside.

Once under the heaters inside of the building, Yami led her to a quiet corner trash can while he pulled off his hat to wring it out. Water dripped into the trash can as he squeezed it as best he could. "Please forgive my appearance," he said. "My umbrella broke on my way to the train station, and I did not have time to purchase another."

Shizuka gave an involuntary shudder. He must have been so cold, sitting in a train soaking wet for three hours! "Let's go to my house for a while, at least until you get dried off."

"Would your mother not protest?"

"Yes, but she won't be home until later tonight. If she comes home early and catches us, we can tell her that you're helping me with my homework." Yami gave her a strange smirk. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." He offered her his arm, and they walked out of the station to catch the next bus.

~0~0~

Shizuka quickly searched her room for something that might fit her guest. Her white jacket might not fit around Yami's broad shoulders. All of her sweaters - including the one she was wearing - might also be too small. She pulled out the coat she had bought to give to her brother for his birthday; that would look like a tent on Yami!

Finally, she settled on offering her bright pink Sanrio robe. She knocked on the bathroom door as loudly as she could. Yami was blow-drying his hair. He looked up at Shizuka and the robe. "Yes?" he called out suspiciously over the noise.

"This is the best I could find to fit you while your sweater dries!"

Yami turned off the device before straightening up, combing his hair with his fingers. "What is that?"

"It s a robe." She handed it to him.

Yami turned it around to examine it. "Is that... a cat dressed pseudo-punk?"

"I'm a big Hello Kitty fan! And I liked how she looks with the spiked collar and black outfit." She grinned. "Sorry if it isn't manly enough."

Yami gave a small sigh and put it on. "Thank you for your consideration. This will suffice," he stated in a sincere tone.

Shizuka led him out to the living room. While he sat on the couch, she hurried to make some hot tea. "Do you like sugar with your tea?"

"Honey."

"Buy me dinner before you call me honey!" she exclaimed jokingly.

"Excuse me?"

Shizuka poked her head back inside the room. "Sorry, couldn't help myself." She cleared her throat. "Is there anything else you need?"

"No, thank you."

Shizuka soon returned with the tea and a small stack of shortbread cookies, just in case Yami wanted something to munch on. She set it down on the small table in front of him and sat in the opposite chair. She did not want to rush him by asking him why he came to speak with her. Aside from the fact that it would be rude, she was still not certain what to make of Yami. The man took his time preparing his tea, setting the honey down closer to her for her use, and taking a sip. He gave an appreciative nod before he spoke.

"You wanted to ask me about Jonouchi." Once again, he stated the fact with authority and purpose. "You said that, based on your friends' blind assumptions, you believe that the reason he has avoided the subject of his romantic life is that he is either some sort of ladies' man or that he is possibly gay."

Shizuka blushed again, feeling more and more ashamed. She took the pillow from behind her to hide her face a little. "Y-yes!"

Yami sat quietly for almost a full minute, his fist to his chin, apparently deep in thought. Finally, he held up a single finger. "First of all, Jonouchi-kun has not had a girlfriend at any time since I have known him. Secondly," he said holding up a second finger, "while he has made lewd comments or gestures, he has not led any girl on in the manner you have indicated."

Shizuka let out a sigh of relief. She had never suspected her brother of anything terrible before her friends put the idea in her head. Now that Yami reaffirmed her faith in him, she felt more confident in speaking to her brother more directly.

Before Shizuka could thank Yami, he continued. "As to the accusation of him being gay, I honestly do not know for certain." Yami took another sip from his tea. "Based on his comments and actions around particularly beautiful women, one would assume that he is a healthily heterosexual male. However," Yami paused momentarily, "I have witnessed him staring at men, too."

Shizuka blinked many times. That was it? A few passing looks? "So, you think he might be gay?"

Yami took another sip of his tea. Those intense red eyes continued to stare at her, as though judging her worthy of the information they possessed. Finally, he set his cup down. "What I am about to tell you is a secret. While I was not sworn into confidence, please understand that this information will not be repeated."

Ignoring the commanding tone, Shizuka nodded eagerly, clutching the pillow.

"Your brother kissed Honda Hiroto."

Shizuka's mouth opened into a round, comical "O". Had she heard that right?

"This was long before Yugi, Anzu, or I met them. They were celebrating the beginning of their summer break after eighth grade ended. Honda, who was Jonouchi's only real friend, wanted to toast it with alcohol, which he had never partaken in before this incident. So your brother took some from your father's cabinet while he was asleep, and the two boys drank it in the back alley of the apartment building. They made toast after toast, becoming more and more inebriated.

One thing led to another, and Jonouchi kissed Honda. Honda yelled out, startled that Jonouchi had kissed him. Jonouchi confessed that he had feelings for Honda and had hoped Honda may feel the same way." Yami shook his head. "As I understand it, Honda had never seen Jonouchi look to desperate, confused, and scared before he said those words. The look on your brother's face still haunts him to this day."

Shizuka's heart clenched for them both. "What did Honda-san say?"

"He started to tell Jonouchi that he appreciated him as a friend, nothing more, but was interrupted by your father."

"No!" The word escaped her lips as a hiss, a plea for mercy from the oncoming shadow that she knew ever lingered over her brother's past.

But Yami could only nod grimly. "He had heard enough to deduce that his son had made advances on another boy. Honda tried to fight the man off to protect your brother. Your father punched Honda in the face, telling him to mind his own business. Apparently that caused Jonouchi-kun to lunge at his father, attacking him more savagely than he ever had before, but the man still beat Jonouchi-kun within an inch of his life." Yami's bangs covered his eyes, but the fists he made on his knees conveyed the suppressed anger and pain at the plight of his friend. "Honda ran to a nearby drugstore to call his parents for help. When he got back to Jonouchi-kun... Your brother was such a bloody mess that he could barely breathe or see straight. And yet..." Yami smirked slightly, "the first question out of your brother's mouth was asking if Honda was okay."

Tears were already flowing from Shizuka's eyes; she let out a sob, hugging her pillow as if it were her poor, injured brother.

"Honda-kun called him an idiot and said that he was going to get Jonouchi-kun to a hospital. Jonouchi-kun replied that he would be alright and that he was only ashamed that he let Honda-kun get involved in his problem. Honda-kun said that now that he was involved, he would make sure those of his family members would get involved, too. Jonouchi-kun warned him against this, saying he would never speak to Honda-kun again if he got the police involved."

"Why?!" Shizuka shouted. But she already knew the answer.

"Pride. Stubborn, hard-headed, unyielding pride. Your brother believes to this day that his father is his problem. While all of his friends do not agree with this, we respect his convictions. Instead, Honda blamed Jonouchi's condition on a young man named Hirutani."

"Who-"

"You will never meet him." Again, his voice gave a command, leaving no room for debate or explanation. "Honda's parents helped to take care of Jonouchi. They were the first adults he ever learned to trust. They are also the reason Jonouchi is currently attending Domino High instead of Rintama High, which has a terrible reputation of gang violence."

"Good," said Shizuka. She felt a bit overwhelmed by the whole story, and a bit scared to think of what her brother must have gone through afterwards. "Did Honda-san ever-"

"Jonouchi-kun refused to speak to Honda about it again. Honda-kun insisted that he was okay with Jonouchi-kun being gay, but your brother acted as though that kiss had never happened. All Honda-kun could do for the time being was to keep his friend's secret from the world at large until Jonouchi-kun is ready to deal with it."

"How do you know about all of this?"

"Honda-kun told Yugi. Suffice it to say that I unavoidably heard it from him."

"And Anzu-san?"

"Anzu has not been told anything outright. However, she is astute enough to have at least figured out her friend's preferences, despite his charade."

Shizuka nodded, still picturing her brother as a boy. How could things have gone so badly since they separated as children. She could still remember a time when she and her father got along. He would even take her out for ice cream on occasion and watch My Little Ponies with her when she was sick. How could he have become so... evil?! She moved her hand through her hair in frustration. "I wish I could have been there!" She punched the pillow. "I should have been there!"

"Honda was there, though."

"Yeah." She wiped her eyes and looked up at him. "I think I appreciate Honda-san a lot more now. I should give him a call."

Yami gave a small smile. "Honda-kun would be pleased." His smile widened. "Do not take this the wrong way, but you remind me of your brother."

"How so?"

"Many small ways. Including the way you messed up your hair. He does that when he is upset, too."

That observation lifted her spirits. She had noticed that about her brother, too. He and Yami really must be very good friends. "What else?"

"Drastic mood swings."

She laughed. "I guess you're right!"

"And a certain disregard for authority figures," he noted, indicating his position on the couch. "Your mother would not be pleased to have an uninvited, unsupervised male guest in her home!"

She rubbed the back of her neck. "Well, I'm not normally like this with strangers. But I guess if you try anything, I'd just tell my brother. Besides, it's okay to break the rules when you're doing something for someone you love!"

"A philosophy your brother employs, as well."

Shizuka laughed loudly at that. "I'll bet!" She got up, hit with a burst of inspiration. "Since you seem to know us both so well, how would you like to see pictures of him as a kid?"

Yami s entire face lit up. "Please!"

~0~0~

The two spent the next hour or so gazing through her mother's photo album. There were more pictures than Shizuka remembered. Their mother had tried her best to make life seem happier, and her camera flashed at nearly every happy moment during their young lives. Their father had even managed to enter into many of the shots, holding her in his arms or putting a hand on his son's shoulder.

Shizuka put a hand on the picture of her brother chasing her father on the beach during their last trip to the beach as a family. "You said that it was pride keeping Big Brother from turning our dad in to the police. I think it's more than that." She tapped the picture. "I think it's hope. Despite all my dad's done to him - to our family - Katsuya holds on to the hope that there is still a part of him worth saving."

Yami snorted. "The man has probably drunken that part away over the years."

"Hope comes from love, Yami-san," she said. "And Big Brother has a heart big enough to love just about anyone!"

Yami looked up into her bright, olive green eyes. He appeared to be at a loss for words, but his intense, ruby red eyes conveyed a deeper emotion at her words. After a moment, he only nodded and returned to gazing at the book.

'To love just about anyone...' Her own words rang in her head, and Shizuka's eyes widened. Suddenly the entire situation made sense. So that was why Yami had asked to talk to her privately! That was why he spent three hours freezing on a train to meet with a stranger! Why else would a man go to such lengths, but for the possibility of finding out more about the person he loved?

Yami said nothing as he stared at the pages of the album. He must have guessed correctly that Shizuka knew his secret: Not only was Yami gay, but he was also in love with her brother. He seemed such the romantic figure to her at that moment that she hugged him in spite of herself. To think that her brother had someone like this in his life!

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Shizuka pulled away and before she could get up to answer it, the lock began to turn. She looked at the time. "I didn't know it was so late, but Mom isn't supposed to be home for..." She broke off as she heard a very familiar voice call out to her.

"Oy, Shizuka-chan!" Katsuya pulled off the hood of his jacket and set down his umbrella. "Sorry I forgot to call ahead, but I thought we could..." He froze at the sight before him, and Shizuka had only just realized how odd a picture it must be for her brother: Yami, one of his best friends, wearing his sister's robe, bare chest underneath, being embraced by his sister in her home on the couch.

All three of them remained as they were for ten full seconds. Yami was the first to recover. He pulled away, clearing his throat. "As clich as this may sound, the situation is not what it looks like."

"Not..." Katsuya seemed to be trying to find his voice as color rose in his cheeks. "You... How..."

Shizuka immediately stood up. "Big Brother, everything is alright! Y-Yami-san was only here to help me with my homework!"

"Homework, huh?" Katsuya's face was now deep red with suppressed rage.

"She is studying Ancient Egypt in her honors history class," Yami stated, still eerily calm given the situation. If her brother were looking at her like that, she'd be running for the hills!

Katsuya dropped his umbrella before advancing on Yami, not bothering to take his shoes off. "What the fuck kind of homework has you takin your shirt off in my sister's house?!"

Shizuka moved closer. She knew her brother had a temper, but would he really hurt his friend? "Yami-san had gotten wet from the storm-"

"Yeah right," he spat, now towering over Yami. "Exactly how dumb do you think I am?"

Yami opened his mouth, but quickly closed it again. Katsyua must have sensed the obvious comeback, because he grabbed the neck of the robe and yanked Yami to his feet.

Shizuka grabbed her brother's arm. "Big Brother, please! He wouldn't do anything to me! He's been a gentleman, and besides, he's gay!"

Once again, her brother froze, and again Shizuka only realized too late that she let slip Yami's secret.

Yami, who had been very calm until this point, blushed almost as red as her brother. "The latter being an intended subject for another time." He pulled away from the taller man's grip, avoiding eye contact, and looked up at the clock. "It truly is later than I had anticipated. I promised Jiichan I would help him with a new shipment of games. If Shizuka-san would get me my shirt, I shall be on my way."

Mortified beyond belief, Shizuka gave her brother a quick look before hurrying to the hallway. As she searched through her dryer, she had a chance to consider her brother's face: Katsuya looked shocked more than anything, even a little frightened. Well, now that she knew what happened with their father

She tried not to think about it as she grabbed Yami's shirt and returned to the living room. Yami and Katsuya were standing a few feet apart from each other now. She couldn't tell which one of them had moved away from the other; perhaps both had. She walked up to Yami and handed him his shirt. "Sorry if it shrank. I kept it on low heat."

"Thank you for your kindness and hospitality, Shizuka-san." He took off the robe, and Shizuka noticed that Katsuya moved his entire body to face the opposite direction. Why, though? Was he trying to make it clear to the rest of them that he wasn't gay? Was he trying to avoid the temptation to look? Or was it just simply that he was uncomfortable with the entire subject now that he knew Yami is gay?

Yami did not make any sign that he noticed her brother as he pulled the shirt over his head. "I shall head home on my own."

"No, you don't have t-"

"Yes, I do." He gave her a polite bow. "I shall not intrude on your time with your brother." Yami looked over at Katsuya, and Shizuka's heart melted at the longing barely visible in his ruby eyes. "See you later!"

Katsuya gave a sound of acknowledgement. But as Yami headed out the door, Katusya turned his head to watch him leave.

Una: I have started both of the next two chapters, but I m hoping a few reviews will inspire me to continue! I want to update in one week! (Hint, hint!)

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm up way later than I should be! Goodnight!