Disclaimer: All Yu-Gi-Oh! characters and references belong to Kazuki Takahashi. The song I Write Sins Not Tragedies belongs to Panic! At the Disco and the company that recorded it. The movie The Pirates of the Caribbean belongs to Disney®. M&Ms are a registered trademark of M&M/Mars Corp. Story elements © Hideki LaShae. No money was gained in the writing of this story.
Lace
By
Hideki LaShae
Chapter Four
Seto knocks lightly on the door.
"Come in."
Seto opens the door and steps into Jounouchi's room to see the blond boy sitting on his bed all ready to lie down and go to sleep. "I'm sorry I took so long. Mokuba wanted to know all about how our date went."
"I've been thinking about that."
"And?"
"Sit down," says Jounouchi.
Seto walks up and takes a seat on the bed beside Jounouchi.
"I have a preposition to make," says Jounouchi.
"I think you mean proposition, but go ahead," says Seto smiling.
"Yeah, whatever. Let's make a deal." Jounouchi blushes. "Let's never talk about our first deal. Let's pretend there was no first deal and just try to be a normal couple. I won't question your intentions, and you don't have to explain it to an idiot again. We'll forget there was a first deal until the six months are over. That's when you could ask me to have sex with you, and the deal would come back into the light, but until that time we'll keep it hidden, keep it secret… forget about it so that it doesn't overshadow our real goal to become friends… maybe something more, but we'll worry about that if it comes to it… We'll just be two people, together, exploring our feelings for each other, and doing what comes naturally without having to worry about some stupid arrangement we made."
"So you're saying…?"
"You don't always have to ask me for permission before you do something, unless you're not sure if I'll accept it. Say if you wanted to kiss my cheek, you wouldn't have to ask me if you can, but if you wanted to kiss my lips, you would ask because you know I'm not ready to do that," says Jounouchi.
"And you won't ask me about the deal anymore? Do you still want me to pay you then?" asks Seto.
"That is your decision."
"It was a part of the original deal, and I like the idea of taking care of you," says Seto lightly caressing Jounouchi's cheek, "So I will still pay you your allowance. But that's what we'll think of it as, an allowance for my girlfriend so she can buy things she wants when I'm not around."
"So… do you like that idea? Of not talking about our deal?" asks Jounouchi leaning into Seto's hand.
"Very much. We'll use this time to learn about each other," says Seto smiling, "I would kiss you right now if I thought you would let me, but since the lips are out, I think the cheek will be close enough."
Jounouchi blushes as Seto leans closer and kisses his cheek. "Okay, now! Do you want to put on your pajamas and we can play a game?"
Seto blushes intensely. "I don't wear pajamas."
Jounouchi blinks once. "No pajamas?" he asks, and his eyes widen suddenly in realization, "Oh! You mean you sleep…!"
"That's right…"
"Well, that was a bad suggestion then. What game should we play?"
"What would you like to play?"
Jounouchi thinks for a moment before his eyes light up. "I have an idea, but we're going to need your dueling deck!"
"It's in my room," says Seto.
"Great! We can play in your room!" exclaims Jounouchi standing up.
"Okay," says Seto standing as well and escorting Jounouchi down a few doors to his room and entering before the blond. He walks over to his desk and unlocks the top drawer to pull out a decorative box with the three Blue-Eyes White Dragons on the lid.
Jounouchi moves over to the bed and climbs on it to sit down almost in the middle of it.
Seto turns towards Jounouchi with a slight smile, and he carries the box over to the bed where he sits down facing his companion. "Now what is this game that requires my precious deck."
"Okay, here's what I was thinking," says Jounouchi slowly opening the box and pulling out the deck, keeping his eyes fixed on Seto's the entire time in case the brunet decides to scold him for touching the valuable cards. He flips over one card to reveal a Blue-Eyes White Dragon. "This is sort of a spoof on Truth and Dare. We would take turns drawing a card. If the attack points are higher than the defense, then the person who drew the card will ask the other a question. If the defense points are higher than the attack points, then the drawer must answer a question that the other poses. If the card is a magic card, then the person who drew it gives the other a dare, but if it's a trap card, the person who drew must perform a dare."
"So since you drew the Blue-Eyes you would ask me a question. If in the next turn, I draw Saggi the Dark Clown, whose defense is higher than his attack, then you would ask me a question. Your next turn, you draw Dark Energy, a magic card, so I have to perform some dare. My next turn, I draw Dragon Capture Jar, so I have to perform a dare again. Is that about right?" asks Seto.
"Well, hopefully it wouldn't be as one-sided as you just made it seem, but I think you get the picture!" exclaims Jounouchi smiling.
"Okay, but we reserve the right to refuse to answer any question or perform any dare should we find it inappropriate," says Seto. He takes his deck and shuffles the cards for several minutes. "How did you think up this game?"
"It's something I've heard some people at school were doing. I think a couple of girls started it because they like the artwork on the cards, but they don't know how to duel," says Jounouchi, "So it's become a popular slumber-party game."
Seto passes the deck to Jounouchi. "Do you want to shuffle?"
"No," says Jounouchi placing the deck on the box's lid, "I'm sure you did a good job and didn't stack the deck. You can go first."
"Thank you," says Seto reaching for the top card. "Let's see. La Jinn, the Mystical Genie of the Lamp. Attack 1800. Defense 1000. So, puppy… who was your first crush?"
"Her name was Kiki. I knew her when I lived in Kyoto, before my family split apart and my dad and I moved here," says Jounouchi, and he smiles slightly. "I haven't thought about her in years." He draws a card as Seto places his in the inside of the box. "Aw, man! You stacked the deck, didn't you?"
"What did you get?" asks Seto taking the card from Jounouchi's hand. He chuckles lightly. "Fake Trap. So I guess I get to dare you something, huh?"
Jounouchi nods as Seto puts the card into the box.
"What should I have you do?"
Jounouchi blushes.
"I dare you to… bark like a dog," says Seto smirking, "We'll keep the first one simple."
"Arf, arf," says Jounouchi scrunching up his face in a snarl, "Woof, woof, woof. Arf!"
"Good puppy!" Seto laughs and draws a card. He shows it to Jounouchi. "Witty Phantom. 1400. 1300. You've told me that you haven't had a girlfriend or boyfriend before, but have you ever been kissed?"
"I think I'm going to match my nightgown by the time this night is over!" exclaims Jounouchi blushing even more.
Seto raises an eyebrow.
"The closest I've ever come to getting a real kiss… I kissed Kiki on the cheek once, but I haven't had a kiss on the lips before," says Jounouchi. He draws a card and smirks. He shows it to Seto. "Blue-Eyes White Dragon."
"Okay, what would you like to know?" asks Seto smiling.
"What's your name? Your real name… what you were called before you became Kaiba Seto…"
Seto hangs his head. "I'm sorry. I can't answer that."
"Oh." Jounouchi's shoulders slump.
"I wish I could, but I don't remember my old family name. My mother… I think her name was Miaka, but I could be wrong… she died giving birth to Mokuba," says Seto, "and my father… Hide… died in a car accident five years later. I was in the car with him. Mokuba wasn't. He was at day-care I think. We were going to pick him up. I was hurt, and I lost a lot of memories. Some of them have returned to me in dreams, but some things are gone forever."
"I'm sorry. I didn't know…"
"That's the point of this game, so we learn more about the other," says Seto. He draws a card and shows Jounouchi the Rabid Horseman. "Why didn't you tell anyone that you had a sister until you were trying to get the money to save her eyes?"
"I don't know. I think I felt that my parent's divorce was my fault. My mom has always hated me, and she still does. She resents me for getting the money to save Shizuka's eyesight, not because the money was raised, but because it was me who got it," says Jounouchi, "I love Shizuka, and I know she looks up to me. But I thought that if she didn't know the thug I've become in her absence that she would still look up to me. And if I told people about her, the news of what I am would get back to her…"
"I see," says Seto, "You wanted to protect her from yourself."
Jounouchi draws. "Hey, a magic card! That means you have to do a dare!"
"And what will you have me do?"
"I dare you to imitate a Blue-Eyes," says Jounouchi, "Like you said, we'll keep the first dares simple."
Seto shifts his body to be on his hands and knees on the bed, and he throws his head back in a roar before he saunters towards Jounouchi like a dragon on the prowl. He pins the blond to the mattress before he smiles. "Do I make a good dragon?"
"A very good dragon," says Jounouchi smiling.
Seto moves off Jounouchi and draws a card. "Oh, great. Dragon Piper. His defense is strongest, so what do you want to know, Jounouchi?"
"What's your favorite food? What do you like to eat the most?" asks Jounouchi.
"It figures you would ask me about food. You love it so much," says Seto, "I like sushi. I like fettuccine alfredo. I like grilled ham and cheese on honey wheat bread, especially when it's served with a rich, creamy potato soup. I love Black Forest cake. I love chocolate. I love… mashed potatoes. They're a comfort food for me. But my absolute, absolute favorite food is Honey-Dijon chicken."
"I might have to cook for you sometime. I'm not the best chef, but what I lack in skill, I make up for in quantity," says Jounouchi smiling as he draws a card. He gasps. "A Red-Eyes Black Dragon! I didn't know you had one of these!"
"It's something I've recently acquired," says Seto smiling, "I had initially intended to give it to you, but I thought it would have a much better place in my deck, beside the Blue-Eyes which will be his mate."
"Okay… so your question… what kinds of music do you like?"
"I'm quite fond of orchestra music. I like music styles from all around the world if there's just instruments and no one singing. Music with singers is fine, but often times the singer just isn't suited for the music they sing. Just so you know though, I do listen to popular music too. Mokuba loves that type of music, and I have to make sure it's appropriate for him to hear," says Seto. He draws a card. "Dragon Capture Jar. A trap."
"Okay, I dare you to sing something for me," says Jounouchi.
"Damn you," mumbles Seto climbing off the bed and pacing for a moment before turning to face Jounouchi. He takes a deep breath before opening his mouth to sing, "Oh, well imagine; as I'm pacing the pews in a church corridor, and I can't help but to hear, no I can't help but to hear an exchanging of words: "What a beautiful wedding, what a beautiful wedding!" says a bridesmaid to a waiter. "Yes, but what a shame, what a shame, the poor groom's bride is a whore." I'd chime in with a "Haven't you people ever heard of closing a goddamn door?!" No, it's much better to face these kinds of things with a sense of poise and rationality. I'd chime in with a "Haven't you people ever heard of closing a goddamn door?!" No, it's much better to face these kinds of things with a sense of … Well in fact I'll look at it this way, I mean technically our marriage is saved! Well this calls for a toast, so pour the champagne! Oh! Well in fact I'll look at it this way, I mean technically our marriage is saved! Well this calls for a toast, so pour the champagne, pour the champagne!"
Jounouchi applauds. "Bravo! Bravo!"
Seto smiles as he sits down beside Jounouchi again. "Thank you. I have taken a few singing lessons before, but not many."
Jounouchi draws a card. "Oh, look, Pot of Greed! I get to give you another dare!"
"Why do I feel that I'm getting the worst end of this game?" asks Seto with a groan.
Jounouchi bites his lip and lowers his eyes. "In that case, I dare you to hold me for the next two turns."
Seto blushes and smiles. He pulls Jounouchi into his arms and starts rubbing his hands along the silky sleeves. "Will you draw a card for me so I don't have to stop holding you?"
Jounouchi draws. "Battle Ox. What question do you have for me?"
"Have you ever cared for someone so much you thought you would die if you couldn't be with them?" asks Seto.
Jounouchi relaxes in Seto's arms. "Yes, I have. I feel that way for my sister, and every day I'm not with her, I do feel like I'm dying inside."
"I'm sorry," says Seto.
Jounouchi draws. "Magic card, Polymerization!"
"I am getting the bad end of this game!"
"I dare you to show me your porn collection!"
Seto blinks at Jounouchi in confusion. "Jounouchi… I don't have a porn collection."
"You don't have porn?"
"I have an impressionable younger brother. I don't want him finding it, and if I had any in the house, he would find it," says Seto, "So I don't have a porn collection. I rent porn when I want to see it, and I only have one nudie magazine that I keep for when I want to service myself. I keep that locked up tight so Mokuba can't get at it."
"Okay, then you have to show me that. We'll look through your nudie magazine together!" exclaims Jounouchi.
Seto blushes as he moves away from Jounouchi and heads to his desk, unlocking the top drawer again and pulling out a locked box. He unlocks the box and pulls out the magazine. He returns to Jounouchi and wraps the blond in his arms again before passing the magazine to the other.
Jounouchi opens the magazine and gasps when he sees the picture of a nude blond man. He turns the pages slowly, and his wide eyes take in all the pictures of the blond men, all gloriously nude and in various sexual poses. He can't explain his body's reaction, but his cock twitches slightly as he looks at the well-endowed men. He closes the magazine and looks at Seto's face to see the tightly clenched eyes. "Why are your eyes closed? I thought you liked looking at this magazine."
"I do, but I don't need to get aroused about a picture with you in my arms," says Seto, "and I have yet to be able to look at that magazine and not become aroused. On the other hand, all I have to do is look at you, and I become aroused too…"
"Oh," says Jounouchi blushing.
Seto draws a card and shows Jounouchi the trap, Gift of the Mystical Elf.
"I can't think of a dare right now, so who was your first crush?" asks Jounouchi.
"The son of one of Gozaburo's business partners. He was British. His name was Remus Black. He was blond and gorgeous. I've fallen for blonds ever since," says Seto.
"Blonds like me?"
"Blonds like you!"
Jounouchi draws a card. "Saggi…"
"I get to ask you a question now. About time. What is your favorite food? I might have Yukia make it for us some night," says Seto.
"Well, I really like all the food she's made so far, but my absolute favorite food is beef stroganoff," says Jounouchi.
Seto draws a card, and he squeezes Jounouchi tighter to him when he sees the Just Desserts trap card. "What would you have me do, Jounouchi?"
"Go down to the kitchen and get us some dessert," says Jounouchi licking his lips, "I need a snack before bed."
Seto kisses Jounouchi's cheek before sliding off the bed. "I'll be back in a moment then."
"Thanks, Kaiba!" Jounouchi lies down and relaxes as Seto heads out of the room.
After nearly ten minutes, Seto enters the bedroom with a tray containing two dishes of chocolate ice cream with sliced strawberries on top.
Jounouchi draws a card. "Kojikocy. 1500 attack and 1200 defense. So, tell me Kaiba. I'm sure the world wants to know… boxers or briefs?"
Seto blushes bright red as he passes Jounouchi a bowl and spoon. He sits down with his own and watches Jounouchi start to eat. "The undergarment I wear depends on what I'm wearing over top of it. When I wear a business suit or a tuxedo, I wear a thong so I don't show an underwear line. Beneath our school uniforms, which are double-lined, I wear boxers or boxer briefs. Beneath my casual clothes, I will wear boxers, boxer briefs, regular briefs, or sometimes bikini briefs. But if I'm going out wearing leather pants, I usually don't wear anything beneath. Now, let's eat, and then we'll wash up a little before we continue. I don't want to get dessert on my cards."
"Okay!" exclaims Jounouchi with a bright blush on his own cheeks.
Seto and Jounouchi eat their fruit and ice cream and set the empty bowls on the tray and place the tray on a table in the hall before they enter Seto's bathroom to wash their hands and faces. They return to the bed and sit down again.
Seto draws a card. "Dark Energy. You mentioned earlier that you would match your nightgown before the night was over. Remove your robe so I can see this nightgown of yours."
Jounouchi stands and pulls off the black robe to reveal the short, red gown.
Seto swallows hard and his cock twitches.
Jounouchi sits down, being careful so that his gown doesn't ride up too high. He draws a card. "A Blue-Eyes! Why do you always refuse Yugi's offers of friendship?"
"I refuse his friendship because he is my rival, and I can't concentrate on trying to defeat him and reclaim my title as Duel Monsters Champion if I'm trying to be his friend," says Seto, "You're his friend, but you don't have something like that weighing you down. Besides, I'm not good at this friendship thing."
"You are with me," says Jounouchi as Seto picks a card.
Seto groans. "Another trap!"
"I dare you to… strip!" exclaims Jounouchi blushing lightly, "You've seen me naked in gym class, but I've never seen you naked! I think I should know what I'd be getting myself into if we ever have sex!"
"Or what I would be getting into you," says Seto climbing from the bed and taking off his shirt. His cheeks tint pink as he removes his pants and boxer briefs. "You'll have to excuse my current status, but this is how your presence affects me."
Jounouchi's blush flares bright red from both Seto's words and his physical appearance. He looks away from the partially erect penis and the rest of the nude body. "So this is how you sleep, huh?"
"Yes, actually," says Seto, "minus the erection though."
Jounouchi yawns, and he slides off the bed. "Maybe we should go to bed now. I'm getting tired. It was a long day."
"You're right," says Seto gathering up his deck and placing it neatly in the box. He lifts his magazine and deck box from the bed and carries them back over to his drawer. He secures the magazine in the lock box before tucking it into the drawer and placing his deck box on top. He closes the drawer and turns back towards the bed. He blinks once he sees Jounouchi setting his robe over the banister of the footboard. He blinks again when he sees Jounouchi fold down the thick comforter and the flat sheet.
"So, what side do you normally sleep on?" asks Jounouchi shyly.
Seto blinks again, now thoroughly confused. "I normally sleep in the center of the bed."
"Oh," says Jounouchi, "Then I guess it doesn't matter which side I get." He crawls into bed on the left side, pulling the blanket over his lower body.
"You're sleeping with me?" Seto's cock hardens and sticks up more.
"I'm not giving you permission to have sex with me," says Jounouchi, "but I wouldn't mind cuddling up to you tonight."
Seto walks up to the right side of the bed and slips under the blankets.
Jounouchi lies down and smiles at Seto. "I've had a great time tonight. Thank you."
"You're well worth it, puppy," says Seto smiling as he slides closer and places an arm over Jounouchi's waist.
Jounouchi moves quickly and kisses Seto's cheek before lying down and cuddling up to the brunet's chest.
"I've had a good time tonight, too, puppy," says Seto kissing Jounouchi's forehead, "Good night. Sleep well."
"Pleasant dreams," whispers Jounouchi.
"They will be," whispers Seto as Jounouchi wraps an arm around him.
***
"Rise and shine, beautiful!"
Jounouchi slowly opens his eyes. He smiles at the man leaning over him. "Morning."
"Yes, it is, but just barely," says Seto, "You sleep like the dead. It's almost noon."
Jounouchi's stomach growls as he sits up and rubs his eyes.
"Lunch will be ready soon, so you'll want to throw on some clothes," says Seto.
"No breakfast in bed today?" asks Jounouchi.
"If you would have woken up, you would have had your breakfast," says Seto pointing at the cold breakfast tray on the nightstand, "but if I remember correctly, your words when I tried to wake you for breakfast were 'Leave me the fuck alone, asshole'. So I didn't try to wake you again."
Jounouchi slaps his hand to his mouth. "Did I really say that?"
Seto nods.
"I'm so sorry! I sometimes talk in my sleep, especially when I'm really tired! I didn't mean it!" exclaims Jounouchi.
"Yes, you did," says Seto.
"Well, not the asshole part!" exclaims Jounouchi with reddening cheeks.
"It's okay, puppy. I'm not upset," says Seto, "Now get up and get dressed for lunch. You can wear whatever you want, either from my closet or yours."
"Well, thank you for breakfast." Jounouchi slides from the bed and lifts a piece of toast to nibble on while he steps into Seto's closet. "I'll be downstairs soon!"
"And I'll be waiting downstairs," says Seto.
Jounouchi looks through the clothes and pulls out a white dress shirt. He hurries into his room with it and selects his outfit quickly before heading into the bathroom to dress and apply his make-up. He decides that his make-up, although imperfect, is good enough after his first attempt, and he fixes his hair before heading down to the dining room.
"Kat-chan!" exclaims Mokuba once Jounouchi walks through the door, "I was just about to come get you!"
Seto looks towards Jounouchi with wide eyes.
Jounouchi wears a deep blue tube top that reveals his well-toned stomach and a black mini-skirt that shows off his long legs. He wears white knee-high socks with blue stripes at the top and a pair of black Mary-Jane's. He also wears the white dress shirt from Seto's closet, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He wears his wig with the long blond hair tied up in twin ponytails on the sides of his head. On his right hand, he wears a plain silver ring, and a silver rope chain winds around his neck twice. His make-up is nowhere near flawless, but it gets its message across.
"You look fabulous, Suya!" exclaims Seto raking his eyes over Jounouchi's form, "Is that my shirt?"
Jounouchi blushes. "You said I could wear my clothes or yours…"
"I didn't suspect you would wear them both," says Seto, "but I think the shirt compliments your outfit nicely. I'll have to lend you my clothes more often."
Jounouchi walks up to the table and takes his seat beside Seto. "So, what's for lunch? I'm getting rather hungry since I missed breakfast."
"Yukia's prepared beef stew," says Mokuba, "It's my favorite Sunday lunch!"
Seto lifts Jounouchi's bowl as he stands, and he removes the lid from the soup server. He fills the bowl and places it in front of Jounouchi before lifting Mokuba's bowl and filling it.
Mokuba grabs the basket of cornmeal biscuits and puts two on his bread plate before putting some on Seto and Jounouchi's bread plates as well. "Yukia knows this is one way I don't mind eating vegetables, so she makes this for us every Sunday."
Seto places Mokuba's bowl down and lifts his own to fill it before sitting down again.
Jounouchi stands and grabs the bottle of juice to fill all three glasses before he takes his seat again.
"It's time to eat now," says Seto lifting his spoon.
"It's time to eat now," mimics Jounouchi and Mokuba, also grabbing their spoons.
Seto watches Jounouchi all throughout lunch, taking special note on how innocent the hairstyle makes him look while the outfit makes him look corrupted and slightly seductive. He smiles over the contradiction, but he doesn't say a word. He decides the combination of innocence and seductiveness works well on his puppy.
"Do you have plans for today, Suya?" asks Mokuba.
"Not yet," says Jounouchi, "I have all my homework done, so I can do whatever I want today."
"Great! You and Seto can take me to the park!" exclaims Mokuba, "I'm meeting some classmates for a game of soccer!"
"You play soccer?" asks Jounouchi, "I didn't know that."
"No, silly! We're going to watch a game of soccer!" exclaims Mokuba, "My school has two soccer teams. The boys' team plays in the late spring and early summer, and the girls' team plays in the late summer and early fall! This is going to be their last match of the season!"
"All we have to do is drop him off," says Seto, "and then we could do whatever we wanted."
"Like go to the science museum?" asks Jounouchi with hopeful eyes.
"If that's what you want to do," says Seto.
Jounouchi nods.
"Then we'll go to the science museum after we drop Mokuba off. You will behave and not run away from your bodyguard, won't you, little brother?" replies Seto.
"If it keeps you out on a date with Jounouchi, then I'll behave!" exclaims Mokuba with a smile.
"Hey!"
"Oh, sorry, Kat-chan!" exclaims Mokuba, "I've so got to remember that!"
"It's okay this time," says Jounouchi, "since we're alone here, but you can't call me Jounouchi when we're out in public. I have a reputation to uphold!"
"Quit bickering! You sound like a bunch of two year olds!" exclaims Seto smiling.
"Hey!" exclaim Mokuba and Jounouchi together.
Seto chuckles. "What time do you need to be at the park, Mokuba?"
Mokuba looks at his watch, and his eyes widen. "The game starts in an hour!"
"We'd better go then," says Seto standing, "It takes almost forty minutes to get to the park, and then another ten to walk to the field."
Jounouchi wipes his mouth and stands up. "How do I look?"
"Well…"
"Honestly," says Jounouchi looking at Seto.
"Your make-up is a bit heavy, and it's not all blended properly, but otherwise you look fabulous," says Seto.
"Let me grab my make-up kit! I can sit in the car and redo my make-up while you walk Mokuba to the field for the game!" exclaims Jounouchi.
"Hurry then," says Mokuba standing and heading out of the room, "We won't wait for you!"
Jounouchi hurries back up the stairs to his room and he grabs his make-up case from the bathroom. He heads down and out to the waiting limousine, and he slides into the back seat. He crosses his ankles as he sits down beside Seto, and he opens his case to pull out the cleaner and wash his face.
"You're getting remarkably good at applying make-up, Kat-chan," says Mokuba, "It took me months to get it right."
"Really?" asks Jounouchi applying the foundation quickly while the limo waits at a stoplight.
"Yeah," says Seto, "Those first few times, it looked like Mari spray painted her make-up on!"
Mokuba swats Seto.
"I'm sorry, but it looked that way," says Seto.
"That's true, but you didn't have to tell Kat-chan!" exclaims Mokuba whining.
Jounouchi smiles, and he places his foundation bottle back into the case as he feels the vehicle begin to move again. "I wish I had the kind of relationship with my sister that you two have. You're obviously very close to one another."
Mokuba hangs his head and sits in silence.
"We are close," says Seto, "I think it's because all we have is each other."
"Yeah," adds Mokuba, "but we fight a lot though. Not big fights, but small ones to keep our strong personalities from clashing too much." He catches his older brother's eye in a glance that means he has more to say, and Seto nods.
"I wouldn't mind fighting with my sister every day if it meant she was close to me," says Jounouchi, "I never get to see her, you know. You don't know how lucky you are to get to see each other every day." He applies his eyeliner when the limo stops at another red light.
"You're right. We are lucky," says Seto solemnly.
Jounouchi gets the base color applied to one eye before the limo continues to move. "I swear! They don't make these traffic lights nearly long enough!"
Seto laughs. "Usually, people yell about that for completely different reasons!"
Jounouchi blinks in realization, and he starts to laugh. "You're right!"
The limo pulls to a stop, and the engine cuts out.
Mokuba looks out the window. "Oh, we're here!"
The driver comes back to open the door for Seto and Mokuba to get out while Jounouchi continues to apply his make-up.
Seto and Mokuba start to walk down the path towards the field where the soccer game will be played.
"I think we should do something special for Kat-chan since she seems very sad," says Mokuba.
"I agree. What do you have in mind?" replies Seto.
"I think we should bring her sister for a visit," says Mokuba blushing slightly, "She'd like that, wouldn't she?"
"Yes, I think Suya would appreciate that very much," says Seto.
"Her birthday is in January, but I'm not sure if we should wait that long," says Mokuba.
"We'll invite her to my birthday party," says Seto.
"Your birthday party?" asks Mokuba, "Since when are you having a birthday party?"
"Since now," says Seto, "I'll begin planning this week. My birthday falls on a Wednesday, and the weekend before I have that business trip, so we'll have the party the weekend after. Do you suppose you could find invitations and help me address them?"
"Yeah, sure! Who all would you invite?" asks Mokuba.
"All Suya's friends, and her sister, and the usual business associates," says Seto.
"Okay! I'll take care of invitations!" exclaims Mokuba, "You take care of the other details! Yukia might need outside help preparing enough food!"
"I realize that," says Seto, "but I'm sure there are some things she would insist upon making herself, so I'll have to talk to her about it. And I'll get a plane ticket for Shizuka so she can spend the weekend here with us. We'd better make the party on Friday night. She could fly here right after school, and then fly back on Sunday."
Mokuba smiles. "And by Monday, you'll have Kat-chan in your bed, begging for sex!"
Seto blushes. "Where do you learn these things?"
"You!" exclaims Mokuba spotting his friends up ahead at the field and running off to join them.
"Brat!" yells Seto after his brother. He watches as the bodyguard who had been trailing them passes him and continues after Mokuba. He turns and heads back to the limo where his chauffeur holds open the door for him, and he climbs in beside Jounouchi again. He sees the completed make-up, and he smiles. "You look wonderful, Suya!"
"Thank you!" exclaims Jounouchi blushing.
"Now let's go to the science museum!" exclaims Seto placing an arm over Jounouchi's shoulders.
"Yeah!" cheers Jounouchi.
"Why are you so anxious to go to the science museum?"
"I love science! I have the second highest grade in our class for science, thanks to you! The guys don't know about my fascination with science though, so I couldn't ask any of them to come to the museum with me," explains Jounouchi, "and I don't like going places alone. I like to have someone to talk to… to discuss things with. You know as much about science as I do, so we could talk about theories and concepts."
Seto smiles. "I'd love to have a scientific discussion with you."
"I read in the newspaper that they have a new electron microscope!" exclaims Jounouchi cuddling into Seto's side, "I want to see that first!"
"Okay, okay!" exclaims Seto laughing.
"I think this is going to be another great day!"
Seto's eyes soften as he looks at Jounouchi. "I think you're right, Suya…"
Late that evening, when Seto drops a male-clad Jounouchi off at his house, Jounouchi sneaks in a quick embrace and a quiet "thank you for a wonderful day" before running up to the front door and heading inside.
