Title: The Twelve Days of Christmas (06)

Author: Kun II Kya

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Twelve days, twelve chances to prove his love.

Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh is copyright 1996 Kazuki Takahashi and Konami. No infringement or disrespect is intended by discussion on these pages of characters created by the copyright holder.

--/--

"On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me six geese a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree."

--/--

Friday afternoon wasn't a very good day for a certain Seto Kaiba. To say that he was in a foul mood was a major understatement and anyone would advise you not to say. He kept a scowl plastered on his face the whole day, through the boring routines he always had to pass through Kaiba Corp. What made it so puzzling was that he refused to tell anyone what exactly was bothering him so much.

Mokuba. That's what.

The raven haired runt that paraded around Kaiba mansion daily, acting like he was high on Pixie Stix. This time, he had revealed to the majority of the school that Kaiba did indeed have a heart. One would think Seto would like that, but if you saw the way the brunette glared at everyone who stood in his way, then you'd think again about that.

Mokuba Kaiba, brother of the world famous Kaiba Corp. CEO, he revealed top secret information to the whole of Domino High School; that Seto was the one that urged him to bring his and Yuugi's relationship into public. He had subtly forgotten to mention the fact that the kiss was purely a punishment for sneaking around behind Seto's back, therefore making Seto out to be the good guy.

Seto Kaiba was furious.

"What?" The brunette snapped at his blonde secretary, whose skirt was too small for her large ass and had a sickeningly sweet smile plastered on her face. Today's suit was a shocking pink that reminded Seto of one of the glow sticks Mokuba had accidentally swallowed when he was little.

The simpering woman's smile faltered a little, although she thought she was making up for that by shifting so that her skirt revealed more skin than Seto ever wished to see.

"Mr. Kaiba," she all but purred, clasping her hands daintily in front of her chest. Her large baby blue eyes were blinking at record speed. "A Motou Yuugi called today, directly after school ended. He says he wants to talk to you, Mr. Kaiba. About young Mr. Kaiba."

Young Mr. Kaiba was Mokuba. No doubt that Yuugi wanted to know his motives behind giving Mokuba permission to take their relationship public. Well, hell would freeze over before Seto Kaiba revealed a reason for anything he did.

"Fine," Seto growled, rubbing two fingers in soothing circles on his temples. They weren't helping. "Anything else, Marie?"

Marie smiled that fake smile of hers, one hand moving upwards to fluff her hair. It made her look like an overgrown rooster.

"A coat company called also, sir." She replied, words laced with some curiosity and even jealousy. "They say that they found the products you wanted and will be sent by tonight. It will arrive at…" Her voice faltered as her face twisted into a grimace, trying to find the name that the store had mentioned. "I have it written down here somewhere…"

Marie edged towards her desk, beside the door to his office. It was at that particular desk that he had involuntarily heard so many of her immature phone conversations with one of her girlfriends. Her manicured fingernails – which were all but perfect ovals with a dab of white at the tip – scraped impatiently at the keys as she tried to figure out which one went into the lock on her desk.

"Kami-sama," Seto groaned, rubbing furiously at his temples. "I know who they're going to deliver the coats to, Marie. No need to find your note." Then, under his breath, "I doubt you'd be able to read your own horrid handwriting anyways."

"Aha!" Marie crooned triumphantly, clutching a lime green sticky note in her left hand. She was waving it in the air, grinning like a loon. "I found it! It says that the coats will be delivered to Jounouchi Katsuya's house by tomorrow morning, Mr. Kaiba."

"Fine," Seto snapped, ignoring the jealous look she was giving the sticky note, as if it was the source of Seto's dislike for her. "That's it; I'm going into my office, Marie. I am not to be disturbed and you will not let anyone in."

--/--

"No!" Marie's annoyingly high pitched voice rang clearly through the heavy wooden door, causing Seto to slam his laptop closed with one hand. "Mr. Kaiba does not wish to be disturbed, not by a blonde mutt with too large eyes!"

"Listen, lady," Katsuya's irritated voice followed. Seto could just imagine him standing by the door, arms crossed saucily, glaring at Marie. "I don't care about your rules. Tell Kaiba to come out here and face me like a man. Or, if he's too afraid –"

Of course, he didn't get to finish his accusation, since Seto took that as a cue to open the door and stalk out impressively, glaring at everything in his line of vision.

"What, mutt?" Seto growled involuntarily; it was his normal reaction to Katsuya's presence. He couldn't help it; he was too fixed on that greeting.

"Kaiba!" Katsuya exclaimed, throwing his hands into the air in exasperation. His large amber eyes rolled heavenwards as Seto took a menacing stance. "I knew you were in there."

"What, mutt?" Seto repeated again, with the deliberateness of one that was explaining a very simple thing to a child.

"Such a good host," Katsuya muttered dryly, rolling his eyes again. He waved it off, however, with a hand that flew through the air. "Never mind. Didn't you get Yuugi's call? He wants to talk to you about little Mokuba there. And why you suddenly decided to grow a heart."

Seto didn't say anything. In truth, he had nothing to say. You wouldn't either, if the object of your affections, no matter how carefully concealed, just indirectly stated that he believed you didn't have a heart.

"I have nothing to say to him." Seto replied in a monotone, not breaking his stare at Katsuya's stunningly beautiful amber eyes. "Tell him that. If he wishes to know the juicy details, then ask Mokuba."

"Fine," Katsuya retorted sourly. It was too hard working with this guy; it was like chewing through a brick wall. "What have you got up your ass?"

"Oh," came Marie's skeptic voice, who had apparently been listening to their argument. "I can think of one thing he'd love to have up his ass."

Seto paled. How the hell did that bitch figure it out so fast? Wasn't that woman supposed to be incompetent? Katsuya snickered amusedly, causing Seto's blood to rush to his face.

"Shut up, if you still want your job, Marie," Seto hissed in a dangerously low tone, still blushing like mad. Now, normally, that would be effective on a coward like her, but this time, due to the way Katsuya was sniggering like mad and her usually stoic boss blushing crazily, it was too tempting to resist.

"Oh," she waved a hand idly in the air. "You can't find anyone else that'll put up with your crap, Mr. Kaiba. I'm the only one that applied for the position of your secretary, remember, Seto?" The sickeningly sweet tone was now back, stronger than ever.

"I can see why," Katsuya muttered, more to himself than to the other. He wasn't snickering anymore, although there was still a broad grin on his face. "Who'd want to work for a bastard like you?"

Marie continued on as if nothing had happened. "Oh, Mr…?"

"Jounouchi," Katsuya replied pleasantly, smiling.

Marie's eyes seemed to bulge out of their sockets before she grinned smugly at Seto.

"Well, Jounouchi-san," she replied in a conversational tone, staring idly at her manicured nails as if they were the most interesting thing in the world. "Mr. Kaiba's got a sweetheart, you know that?"

Now it was Jounouchi's turn to plaster a smile on his face. Both Marie and Seto didn't notice however; as Seto was too busy glaring daggers at the female blonde and Marie was too busy gloating.

"He's been doing something sneaky, he has. Staying up all night. Skipping meals and sometimes daydreaming in his office." Marie grinned cockily, tilting her head to one side. Her baby blue eyes seemed to glare at Seto, revenge for the endless hours of him being so mean to her.

"Wouldn't you like to know who his mystery sweetheart is, Mr. Jounouchi? Why don't you take a wild guess?"

"Don't you dare," Seto snarled to Marie, glaring daggers. If looks could kill, Marie would be dead and six feet under right now. And it was doubtful that anyone would bother to go to her funeral.

"Oh, I can," she replied teasingly. "And I would. You see, Mr. Kaiba had some very interesting presents sent to a certain house today, due for delivery the next day. He spent fortunes on those products, he did. Well, several hundred."

Katsuya cast a jealous look in no general direction, since he didn't know who exactly to be jealous with. It was kind of hard to get revenge on someone when you knew what they did, yet don't know who they are.

"Who is it?" Katsuya queried in a curious tone, nudging Marie with an elbow. He had long since taken a position atop her desk, sitting crossed legged on the smooth wood surface. "Who's Kaiba oh-so-precious sweetheart?"

"It's a certain—"

Marie didn't get to finish her eloquently arranged sentence, since Seto now had a hand clamped over her mouth. He inwardly shuddered at the outrageous amount of heinous cherry lip gloss she had glued over her lips. It made his hand all slimy and it was in danger of slipping off her mouth altogether.

"Out." He growled in a low tone, dragging Marie up by her ear. To hell with that lesson all boys learned; never hit a girl. This wasn't a girl; this was a grade-A bitch. "And never come back. I swear to Kami, if you take one step into Kaiba Corp., ever, I will sic the police on your powered ass. Now get out of here."

Seto didn't give Marie the chance to make an elegant exit, however, as he dragged her forcefully by the ear to the elevator and personally handed her to the security guards. Katsuya's last image of her was gaping at the closing elevator door with overly large eyes, one black and one blue. Her color contact lay on her desk, gleaming lusciously in the fluorescent light.

"Wow," Katsuya murmured.

Seto assumed he was making a comment on how the brunette's temper could flare up at the smallest thing. What he didn't know was that Katsuya currently was staring mesmerized, at the thin sheen of sweat that had developed on his pale skin in his rage. He was staring at the way Seto's chest heaved up and down as he glared back at the blonde.

"Wow, what?" Seto snapped, glaring daggers again. That seemed to be his favorite hobby whenever Katsuya came over to visit.

Katsuya didn't notice, however. He also didn't notice as Seto tossed him, too, out of Kaiba Corp.'s main building. He didn't notice the gentle way Seto cradled him as he slung the blonde over his shoulder and proceed to kick Katsuya out of his building.

"Wow." Katsuya muttered as he stumbled home. "Wow."

--/--

"Niisama? Pleeeeeeeease?"

"Fine," Seto replied exasperatedly into his office phone. His eyes were closed in exhaustion and his fingers were currently tapping listlessly at the cover of his laptop. So much for a small break – Mokuba had called as soon as Seto got off on his five minute break to ask for permission to stay over at Yuugi's house. And do Kami know what; Seto really didn't want to know.

"Yay!" Mokuba's excitement could be clearly pictured, although he was talking over the phone. Oh well, it cheered Seto up a bit to know that his decision caused the happiness of his younger brother. Wasn't that what he always strived for? His little brother's happiness and contentment?

"You're welcome," Seto replied distractedly, although the fact that Mokuba didn't thank him hung clearly in the air. He didn't really care right now; he was just too pissed with the fact that Marie had been fired. But what she said was the truth; no one wanted to work with someone as foul tempered and mean as him. She was the only one idiotic enough to sign up for that job.

"Oh, arigatou," Mokuba replied. "Ja, Niisama!"

--/--

"K'so!" Katsuya's irritated voice could be heard through his apartment complex as he stepped out onto his porch in a pair of wrinkled blue jeans, no shirt. His blonde hair was tousled almost adorably and large amber eyes were clouded over with sleep. Katsuya had come out to get the newspaper that the paper boy tossed haphazardly on his porch daily. But what did he get? No paper, just a pain in his toe that he would've killed not to be cursed with. Hell, it was annoying.

Oh well, he couldn't exactly help it. But the fact that the huge box he had stubbed his bare – now freezing – toe on was the present for today. The sixth present in the series that had been mysteriously sent to him all week along. One for each day of the week that had continued for the last six days.

"Wow," Katsuya muttered, eyeing the size of the gigantic box critically. He was in a strange position, crunched over so that one hand could rub his now aching toe. "Another present? How sweet."

And thus began the series of grunts and moans that Katsuya emitted when he single handedly dragged the box in from the porch. Thank the Lord that it wasn't one of those traditional nailed wooden boxes, but a cardboard one that was wrapped elegantly in an emerald green wrapping paper. His name was scribbled hastily on the surface in a handwriting that had no resemblance to the one on the other gifts.

Hell, Katsuya was overjoyed by what he got today. Six fur coats, all the same shade of striking ebony, lay one atop each other, stacked in the box. The price tags were ripped off, although Katsuya had a feeling that someone must've spent a fortune on these. Ironically, all the other presents were of sentimental value, all handmade by someone who cared for the sassy blonde very much. This was the first ever that represented the anonymous sender's wealth.

"Mmhm," Katsuya murmured in comfort as he slipped one of them on. His house' heater had been busted long ago by a rogue baseball that Katsuya had been playing with; therefore, it was a good thing for him to slip on the huge fur coat. He didn't mind that it made him look like an overgrown mink. Granted, he made a very adorable overgrown mink, but that doesn't matter.

"Wow," Katsuya's father unconsciously repeated his son's exclamation of awe as he walked into the room. He eyed the coat critically then gave a low whistle, clapping his hands together heartily. "Who gave it to you?"

Seeing Katsuya's downtrodden look and the inconspicuous look towards the torn wrapping paper on the floor, he nodded understandingly. He walked over to the blonde and patted the blonde on the back with a huge hand.

"It's okay, Katsuya," he assured the self-conscious blonde in a reassuring voice. A large grin stretched his face and it made him look kinder than ever. "He'll reveal himself when he's ready."

Then, he left. But it was after Mr. Jounouchi left that Katsuya realized one thing; he never told his father that he was homosexual.

--/--

Another rock skittered across the cracks of the cement sidewalk. Katsuya's sneakers soon slammed down on the space it had previously occupied. His eyes were downcast as he kicked the same pebble over and over again, finally stopping when the poor item slipped smoothly into an unusually large crack. Katsuya sighed heavily as he stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jeans. His bangs hung over his large amber eyes, which weren't sparkling with their usual excitement anymore.

"Jounouchi!" Ryuuji hollered over the roar of the early winter wind, a piece of computer paper clutched in his hand. He waved it through the air, an excited grin on his face. It made the blonde wonder what exactly he was so excited about. "I found something that you might like!"

"What?" Katsuya questioned halfheartedly, toying with the pebble using the tip of his sneakers. "It better be good news."

Ryuuji grinned cockily, propping one hand saucily on his hip. That made him look more feminine than ever. His shoulder length raven hair, still strapped securely in his scrunchie, waved comically in the wind.

"Oh, I think you'll like it," the raven haired boy answered teasingly, sticking the paper directly under Katsuya's nose.

It was an application for a job.

"So what?" Katsuya replied boredly, rolling his eyes heavenwards. "What's so exciting about an application? I admit I need a job, but that's not that exciting."

"Oh," Ryuuji replied through broadly smiling teeth. "You'll like what this job is." He pointed at the paper. "A secretary. For the best himself -- Seto Kaiba. His old one was fired yesterday; I saw one of the security guards throwing her on her overly large ass at the door."

Ryuuji didn't like Marie either; he didn't have a good experience with the flirtatious blonde when he was trying to make a deal with Kaiba. The stupid bitch wouldn't leave him alone. Ryuuji claimed that it was his sexual demeanor that attracted girls to him like a magnet.

Katsuya bit his bottom lip. He did truly want to have the chance to get to know the CEO better…

"Fine," Katsuya grunted, snatching the application out of Ryuuji's hand. The raven haired boy grinned again. "You win. I want this job."

"I knew it," Ryuuji crooned triumphantly, clasping his hands daintily in front of his chest. It reminded Katsuya of Marie. He shuddered involuntarily. "You're infatuated with Kaiba!"

Luckily for him, there was no one around to hear his outburst. Katsuya simple glared daggers at him as he filled in his address on the form. Ryuuji smiled indulgently and waltzed away, twirling a lock of hair around his fingers. He was humming 'Here Comes the Bride' off tune.

"I always knew there was something seriously wrong with the boy," Katsuya muttered grimly as he watched Ryuuji walk away. "No boy's that effeminate."

to be continued