Zypher: Well, here we are once again to celebrate another character birthday. -claps- And again, we all have to thank my helpful friend Red Dragon of Egypt for giving me another idea, this one coming from the wonderful writings of DragondreamerYamiDragon in her Stronger than Before series. For those that has read it will know this well and if you haven't, go read it for it is a good read filled with much suspense. Now, I present to you Jou's birthday ficlet for 2008. Enjoy.

Summary: After gaining the Red-Eyes Black Dragon and how that single card helped him through many duels, Jou wished there was a chance where he could interact with the dragon more than just his partner in duels. And Seto has the technology to make that wish come true.

Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh or this idea which belongs solely to DragondreamerYamiDragon.

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Gift from the Heart

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Jou sighed as he came in from his small job late that night. It was two weeks from that day before his birthday and he hasn't heard anything from Seto lately. He knew the other was working but to not have time to spend with him or Mokuba made them worry. They didn't want the other to overwork himself but he seemed so adamant to the work he was completing. Mokuba even tried to get a hint during a week when they were curious but he was blocked from seeing or hearing anything about the project. So with a heavy heart, the two could only hang out with one another, Kaiser joining when he can if he wasn't busy with Ruby, watching as Seto came up occasionally from the VR systems room installed in the mansion to get something to eat or drink before returning to his work for hours on end.

Ruby came downstairs, greeting Jou as he came inside and Jou only gave a nod in return as he went into the living room to sit on a couch, the light of the fire shining upon the fabrics of forest green. Ruby frowned before walking over, going to sit next to the melancholy teen. "Something wrong, Jou?" he asked softly. "It's Seto. I know he's working but I fear he's working too much. Ever since he started this project a few days ago, he hasn't come out of the VR room except for something to eat or drink. He barely even comes to bed and Kaiser told me he usually catches him sleeping on the couch late at night and then when he come back early in the morning, he's gone back in the room." Jou gave a sigh, trying to keep himself from letting the dam of emotion overflow.

"Whatever he's doing must be important but to not spend at least a little time with me, his own lover, makes me fear whether things will end because he's swamped with work and won't have any time for me anymore."

"Now Katsuya, you shouldn't be saying such thing. Seto loves you and even though he's working hard, he probably has you on his mind every day and is sure to be hoping to see your smiling face when he gets done with whatever he's doing in there." Jou thought about it and nodded, smiling. "Thanks, Ruby. You really know how to cheer people up." He gave a smile and patted Jou's head lightly before standing. "Of course. With Kaiser around, I have to or else I won't be sleeping in my own bed for a week or two." Jou laughed, getting a chuckle from Ruby before the other left the room.

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The next two weeks went by pretty quick and Jou didn't worry anymore about Seto and his work but the day before his birthday, he started to become anxious. Will Seto remember his birthday is tomorrow? Will he be working through it the entire day and not come out once to see him? Jou feared these thoughts and shook them off before they became a burden all the way to tomorrow. He hung out with Ruby who was taking a trip over to the Game Shop to see about a new game for Mokuba and while they were there, he decided to pop a surprise party invitation to Yami while Yugi was talking with Jou in the sitting room behind the shop.

"We'll be happy to come." Yami said and Ruby nodded. "Jou! I'm ready to go!"

"Alright! Be there in a jiff!" he called back. Yami looked to Ruby for a moment. "So, how's the project going?" he asked softly. "It's going alright. Seto should be done just in time for Jou's birthday." he replied. Jou came out just after he said that and Ruby gave a nod to Yami before leaving out with Jou. Yugi walked into the shop and looked to Yami. "Think Kaiba will get done with everything he wanted to prepare for Jou-kun on time?" Yugi questioned with hope.

Yami nodded. "I'm sure he will. He wouldn't fail Jou-kun just before his birthday."

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That night, Seto came out to have a nice dinner with Ruby, Mokuba, Kaiser and Jou and he was happy for this. "I really thought you were going to be cooped up back there all day and night like before, nii-san!" Mokuba exclaimed. "Sorry for that, Mokuba. I didn't want any of you feel like I didn't care but I was really busy to make sure this will work like I want it to. I didn't want any slip-ups by the lousy workers I have so I decided to take it upon myself to work this out."

"So that what it was." Jou murmured out loud.

"What? Did you really think I would forget you all, puppy?" he asked, looking over to Jou. He jumped when he realized he spoke out loud and laughed with humor. "Nah! I know you won't forget about us with your work, Seto! We all know that better than you!" Jou said, laughing again as he rubbed the back of his head. Seto nodded and once the food was brought in, they all started eating and talking merrily like the family they always were.

After dinner, Seto bid a goodnight to everyone before heading back into the VR room. Jou watched him go and sighed softly before taking up on Mokuba's offer to play a round of games with him and Kaiser. They played long into the night and when Ruby came in to check on them, they were all asleep, the winner's screen for the second player that was Kaiser lighting up the TV screen.

He smiled softly and turned off the game and picked up Mokuba to put him to bed before waking up Jou, telling him softly to head to his and Seto's room for a more comfortable spot to sleep than the floor as he picked up Kaiser to take him to their shared room. With a whispered goodnight, Jou headed off to Seto's room and climbed into bed after changing into some nightwear. He sighed, looking over to the spot where Seto always lied and placed a hand over it. 'Another night, another moment of loneliness.' he thought before falling into another restless sleep.

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Soon, it was January 25, Jou's birthday. The young Kaiba left the teen alone as they prepared for the party. Ruby knocked on the door to the VR room and Kaiba opened it, rubbing sleep from his eyes. "Are you done?" he asked. Seto nodded. "Yeah. Last night I was just working out the kinks so everything should be ready to go." Ruby gave a nod before ushering the male from the room. "Then go fetch the birthday boy. Yugi and the others should be here by the time you two get downstairs." Seto gave another nod and headed upstairs so he could get himself a shower and wake up Jou.

But to his surprise, he was already awake and looked as if he had already taken his morning shower. "Oh. Morning, Seto."

"Morning. Did you sleep well?" Seto asked as he went to gather a fresh set of clothes. "Yeah." Jou whispered. Seto heard the slight depression in his tone and hoped that everything we worked on for the last two weeks will make up for his absence from the other teen. "Well, I'm going to get myself a quick shower. Why don't you head downstairs and I'll meet you down there." Jou nodded and left to head downstairs while Seto headed for his personal bathroom to get his long needed shower. When Jou got down to the main floor, he was greeted by the smiling faces of his friends, presents wrapped in color and a large cake resting on a serving table with a few snacks.

"Whoa...when did this all happen?" Jou asked in amazement.

"Earlier this morning. We know you sleep like a rock, Jou, so we had all this prepared before you woke up which, surprisingly, is earlier than usual." Mokuba answered and Jou flushed slightly before ruffling the smaller boy's hair lightly before the early morning party started. Seto was downstairs within five minutes and smiled to see Jou smiling and having fun. The party went well for the rest of the day and after the cutting of the cake and the opening of gifts which many consist of games that both Jou and Mokuba wanted to play, the group of friends left, leaving the small Kaiba family to their own devices.

"Mokuba, why don't you and Kaiser take Jou's game up to your room and play them for a bit." Ruby suggested and with big puppy eyes that Jou succumbed to, they were both thundering up the stairs with the boxes of games in hand.

"I'm so gonna whip you in Super Smash Bros Brawl!"

"We'll see about that, pipsqueak!"

Ruby shook his head, chucking softly before he got to the task of cleaning up the table and discarded wrapping paper, leaving Jou with Seto. Seto looked down to Jou before taking his hand and started walking. "Seto, where are we going?"

"To see your gift from me. Just stay quiet and let me do the talking."

Jou only nodded as they reached the familiar doorway of the VR room and he opened it, turning to Jou and asking him to close his eyes which he did and he was led inside. It was a short walk and then Jou felt himself being laid down in a containment of some sort. He was ready to open his eyes and see what was up when Seto told him to keep his eyes closed still. Nodding again, he did so and heard a few clicks of keys on a keyboard before he felt a rush pass through him and when he opened his eyes to Seto's voice, he found himself in a large field speckled with a few trees. "Where am I?" Jou asked.

"A special VR world I made just for you and the guest of honor will be arriving soon."

Jou wondered what he meant when he heard a very familiar cry. He turned and gasped as he say the majestic dragon from his deck glide through the air before landing before him. Piercing red eyes looked down to him before the dragon lowered its head down to him. Jou reached up slowly before pulling his hand away. "It's alright, Jou. She knows you well. I made sure to program that well into her mind to always know her true master just as her mate knows his true master but will get along with anyone."

She gave a croon, nuzzling him and he was surprised that the virtual version of the Red Eyes felt so lifelike. "Seto...this is so great. You don't know how much I had wished to have a chance to meet her in real life and I know it isn't impossible but I didn't want to ask Yami to do it since we already had issues before with having the Shadow Realm opened in the real world before."

"Understandable and I knew that with how much you coddle that card in reality, I thought about this and started planning out the schematics for this project which was a work alone project from me for you, puppy. That's why I've been working day and night cause I wanted it to be perfect for you. Even though it's virtual reality, I wanted to make it as real as possible so you'll remember it for days to come." Seto said with a smile from outside as he tapped a few more keys and another roar was heard as the Blue Eyes flew in, landing beside the Red Eyes and nuzzled her and she returned it, purring softly.

Jou smiled before turning to Seto even though he couldn't see the other. "So, did you give them names?"

"Nope. I leave the naming to you."

Jou smiled brightly before turning back to the two dragons that were watching him. "Hmm, let's see." He looked to the Blue Eyes first. "How about we call you Nim and for you," He then turned to his Red Eyes. "How does Carne sound?" They both gave roars of agreement and Jou nodded. "Great. Nim and Carne, glad to meet you both. As I'm sure my love has already done, I'm Jounouchi but Jou's just fine by me."

They both nodded before Carne scooped him into her large claws and with a slow nod to Nim, they both were in the air, Jou laughing as they soared through the skies and the wind blowing through his hair. He definitely knew that the work put into this project is worth his happiness and he was glad that Seto took to the time to prepare this gift for him.

'This is definitely a gift thought out from the heart. To make this dream come true is the best gift I could ever receive. Thank you, Seto, my one true love.' Jou thought as the two dragons flew around the expanse of area, Seto sitting in the VR room, a smile on his face as he watched his love's happiness shine bright.

"I love you too, pup. And to see you happy makes me know that this was an accomplishment. Enjoy this as long as you want cause this moment will always be here for you."

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Zypher: And there you have it and just made my mock deadline of having this done before midnight on the date of a character's birthday. Anyways, hoped you enjoy the read and give a shout out to Jou for his birthday and I'll see you soon with the next birthday on my list in due for a one-shot. See ya later.

Quick Elven Trans: Carne - Red, Nim - White