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Rendezvous - Chapter 1I watch the wind caress those chestnut locks and feel a little jealous that it's not my fingers ruffling that perfect head of hair. He smiles and I feel left out because I'm not in its path. My body aches to be the one he embraces so tightly in those strong arms.
He's here every afternoon to pick up his little brother and every afternoon my little brother catches me staring when I come to pick him up.
"Yami, you're such a coward," he snickers at me, causing me to tear my eyes away from Seto Kaiba's perfect form and scowl at him instead.
"Just get in the car, shrimp," I grumble.
"Hey! You're not allowed to call me that!" he swats playfully. "It's not like you're the tallest guy on the planet!"
"Well, I'm taller than you," I laugh, closing the door behind him.
"You're not as tall as Kaiba," he teases.
"News flash, Yugi! Most of the country isn't as tall as Kaiba."
We both laugh as I drive away.
He's right though. I am a coward. I've wanted Seto Kaiba since we were in high school together, but I could never build up the courage to say more than a few words to him if we weren't dueling. That and I didn't know if he'd be open to having another male interested in him. Kaiba always kept to himself and everything about him was a closely guarded secret.
Except maybe how much he loved Mokuba.
All it took was one bully at the elementary school and the whole world knew not to even look at Mokuba cross-eyed! Though he probably wouldn't have beaten the kid's father up if he hadn't had the audacity to threaten to hurt Mokuba himself while Seto was at school or running Kaiba Corp.
It's an open secret how Seto avoided assault charges after that incident, the late Gozaboro Kaiba.
Pulling up at the game shop, I attempt to push all thoughts about Seto Kaiba out of my head since I'll be working the counter for the next few hours while Yugi does homework and Grandpa rests his feet and back for a while before making dinner.
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Summer vacation is one day nearer. Just five more days and Yugi will be out of this school since he'll be in high school next year. And then I won't have to pick him up every afternoon.
And I won't see Kaiba anymore.
This is the first time that I've ever hated summer vacation.
"Are you okay, Yami?" Yugi asks, touching my arm lightly. I guess he's not used to seeing me unhappily staring at the ground when I come to pick him up because I'm usually wistfully staring at Seto.
"I'm fine," I mumble, opening the passenger door for him.
"No you're not. You didn't look at Kaiba once since I came out of school," he replies as I close the door behind him.
"What's the point, Yugi," I scoff after closing my door and starting the car. "I'm never going to have the courage to say anything to him and in five days, you won't ever be coming back to this school again. So I won't even get to just look at him!"
"Then stop being such a wimp!" he yells at me as we pull up to a stoplight.
I don't reply, having nothing of value to say.
"Pretend you're dueling," he suggests as we pull off. "Or better yet, challenge him to a duel! At least it will get you talking."
"Maybe," I mumble, thoroughly embarrassed that my 14 year-old little brother is giving me dating advice.
'Challenge him to a duel', he says. Easier said than done. I'd still have to speak to him first to do that.
Gods! I am a wimp!
We pull up to the game shop and follow our usual routine, me work, Yugi, homework, grandpa rest and dinner. Nothing's changed in this routine for the last two years.
I look up at the bell to see Jou walk in with his schoolbooks. He smiles sheepishly at me, then heads through the back of the shop to go up to Yugi's room. I narrow my eyes at him and watch him go by. Yugi's crazy if he thinks I don't know Jou's his boyfriend and not just his best friend. And if I didn't have to watch the shop, I'd go up there and break up whatever they're doing. I'm sure it's nothing more than kissing and such, but still, they shouldn't be doing it while grandpa is home!
Not to mention that Jou's almost 18! What's he even doing with Yugi anyway? Shouldn't he be scouting some high school babe or dude!
Hmph. The truth is that I'm jealous of my own little brother. He and Jou have been "friends" going on a year now. And have been practically inseparable. At this rate, Yugi will probably lose his virginity before I do!
And I so did not think that.
The ring of the bell over the door pulls my thoughts back to more respectable areas.
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Today is the last day of school. I stare at Kaiba leaning against his dark blue convertible. In less than 10 minutes, the kids will come barreling out and I'll lose my chance.
Well, it's now or never.
"Hey Kaiba," I call calmly, walking leisurely over to him, hands firmly in pockets to conceal their shaking. "It's been a while."
"Motou," he nods, crossing his arms at me.
Oh, boy. This isn't going like I'd hoped. He's practically scowling at me!
"So, since it's been a while, I was wondering if you'd be up for a duel; for old time's sake."
He smirks at me.
"Sure, why not," he scoffs.
"Great! How about this weekend? We could meet at the game shop."
"As if I'd set foot in that dump ever again," he sneers. "If you want to duel me, you'll come to the mansion at 5pm sharp tomorrow night."
I nearly choke on the enthusiastic squeal threatening to break free. Seto Kaiba's inviting me by his house on a Saturday night!!
"Sure," I shrug casually. "I'll be there at 5," I smile.
Just then, the school doors open and hundreds of happy teens come rushing out.
"See you tomorrow, Kaiba," I wave, heading back to my car.
"Right," he nods, standing to great his brother.
"Well," Yugi gushes as soon as we drive off.
"I'll be meeting him at the mansion tomorrow at 5pm."
Yami squeals like a fan girl.
"We have SO got to buy you some new clothes for the occasion!"
"What? I'm not buying new clothes! Why would I do that?"
"Duh! Dress to impress, Yami! I swear you are so dense! At this rate, I'll get laid before you do!"
I nearly crash the car.
"What did you say?" I yell at him.
"Whoa, Yami! Calm down," he quips, hands held up in surrender.
I turn to face him.
"Don't think I don't know what you and Jou are doing when he comes over to 'do homework', Yugi," I glare.
He starts and then laughs in my face.
"I don't find this funny, Yugi! If grandpa ever found out, he'd probably have a heart attack!"
"Boy, you have been mooning over Seto Kaiba for a long time," he snickers.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Grandpa has known for months. And to put your mind at ease, Jou told me early on that he wasn't comfortable with my age. In fact, I'm the one who asked him out!"
"What?!"
I couldn't believe it! Grandpa knows! And Yugi asked Jou out! How did I miss all this?
"Why didn't you tell me, Yugi?"
"About Jou?" He shrugs. "I dunno. It just didn't seem important since the most we've ever done is polite kisses."
"Polite kisses?"
"No tongue," he smirks. "But enough about my love life, we need to get yours on track. And to do that, you need some new clothes! I'll call Mokuba and find out what colors Kaiba likes or hates and we'll pick something accordingly.
"You have Mokuba's number," I ask incredulously.
"Of course! We've been friends since elementary school!"
My little brother is just full of surprises.