Katsuya sighed in relief as the plane's wheels hit the tarmac, rapidly decelerating as they landed. Apparently, Seto felt that way too, his white knuckled grip on the armrest next to Katsuya's own hand finally relaxing. Katsuya placed his hand on Seto's, briefly threading their fingers together and giving Seto's hand a supportive squeeze. Seto gave him a barely perceptible smile, glad for the reassurance after the turbulent flight. Which said a lot for how bad it had been considering how often Seto flew as both a passenger and a pilot.

Despite what felt like an incredibly harrowing flight home, he could barely contain his excitement about being there again. No matter how long he lived elsewhere, Domino would always be home. Admittedly, it felt strange to be back with Seto. They'd been dating for just over nine months. Most people didn't know about his relationship; he hadn't felt the need to tell them. It had been limited to pretty much just Mokuba (and by extension Akane), Shizuka, Yugi, who had, upon discovering his breakup with Alexa, immediately asked if Kaiba had been involved, and Anzu, who had stopped by on a whim one evening when she was in town for a class. She'd surprised him right as he and Seto had sat down to watch a movie. Katsuya hadn't really expected to pay all that much attention to the movie that night, and clearly, neither had Seto because when he brought in their unexpected guest, he'd rolled his eyes dramatically and stalked off to the kitchen with an indignant huff.

Being here with Seto now, the first time they'd returned as a couple, had him somewhat anxious. It meant the relationship would become public knowledge. He wasn't ashamed or anything, but knowing that their very private relationship would suddenly become public knowledge had him on edge. He'd agreed to the trip. Of course, he had. They were there to attend Mokuba's wedding. Together. Something he wouldn't miss for anything, but also something people would talk about. Neither wanted to steal the spotlight away from Akane or Mokuba, but they were well aware people would notice them there together.

The plane arrived at the terminal, and Seto stood up, Katsuya following along behind him, winding through the airport. They breezed through customs, and several people, clearly duelists by the duel disks on their arms, pointed at them and buzzed with interest. Realistically, it was probably just Seto they had noticed. After all, he was the bigger celebrity between them. The young, rich, innovative CEO of one of the most profitable companies in the world, and he… well, he'd been out of the country and out of the dueling world for so long, most people probably didn't even know his name anymore.

"You're getting attention," Katsuya commented quietly.

Seto simply grumbled beside him, and then they were on their way, Isono greeting them in the airport and directing them to the car, opening the door for them and taking their luggage. They settled into the backseat of the car. Seto pulled out his phone and then groaned. "Isono, take me to the office."

"Yes, sir."

Katsuya gave him a perplexed look. "What's up?"

Seto shook his head. "They've called a last-minute meeting. Apparently, the fact that Mokuba will be gone for two weeks after the wedding and that I'm headed back overseas means we need to talk about it."

"Oh," he stated. Not that he hadn't grown quite accustomed to Seto's sudden work demands, but it seemed a little ill-timed. They were both tired after the flight, and he'd really wanted to curl up in bed together for a nap. No such luck, it seemed.

"Do you want to go to the manor without me?" Seto asked, reaching for his hand, entwining their fingers.

"Not really," he replied with a shrug.

"Would you rather go elsewhere?"

"I'd rather stay wit' you," Katsuya said plainly, "but I guess I could hang wit' Yugi for a bit. Go an' surprise him. Hopefully, he's not busy right now..."

"Mmm," Seto agreed and told Isono to drop him off at Yugi's first. Moments later, they were outside of the game shop, travel from the airport taking less time than he'd have anticipated. Katsuya flung open the door and climbed out, Seto trailing after him, as Isono hurried around the front of the vehicle. "I do pay Isono to open up doors for me." Seto lightly admonished. Probably something he said so that Isono didn't feel like he'd not done his job.

"I ain't lettin' a poor old guy rush to open a door for me," Katsuya said confidently.

"Jounouchi-san, I'm not much older than you," Isono said weakly, as he came around the front of the car.

"Just Jounouchi is good. Or Jou," he corrected. "My old man was Jounouchi-san, and eh… I'll pass on usin' his name."

"Wait here for me, Isono. I'll be back shortly."

The man bowed, and then they were headed into the shop together. The bell on the door chimed as they entered, and without looking up from what he was arranging in the display case, Yugi shouted, "Welcome to Kame Game!"

Katsuya grinned as he replied, "Don't think I need a formal greetin'."

Yugi quickly straightened up, grinning, though his eyes widened in surprise as he noticed Seto. "Jou! Kaiba-kun! I didn't think I'd be seeing you today!"

"Seto… um…," he trailed off. It felt awkward to use his given name around Yugi, too personal and private, so he settled on the old default. "Kaiba has a meetin' this afternoon, and I figured I'd hang out wit' ya 'til he finished up."

Yugi looked between them and then nodded. "Sure thing. I'm just working in the shop today, so make yourself comfortable."

"Thanks, bud," he said, and then he turned his attention to Seto. "I'll see ya later, okay?"

"Mmm," Seto agreed softly, allowing Katsuya to step into his space and hug him. Katsuya leaned forward, quickly pressing his lips against Seto's cheek. Seto pulled him closer to give him a short kiss in return, their lips brushing together briefly, leaving a lingering promise. "I'll try to be quick," Seto whispered.

"Good," Katsuya said with a smile and stepped out of his arms, waving goodbye.

Seto simply nodded and then headed on his way. He turned his attention back to Yugi, who was staring at him, shocked. "Wow…" he mused in awe. "That's going well, isn't it?"

"Better 'an I'd ever expected," Katsuya said with a blush. "He's...not the same asshole from before. Still an ass, but he's my ass."

"Oh, so you…?" Yugi trailed off, cocking an eyebrow at him suggestively.

"Ehhh, 'at ain't none a' your business," he said defensively

Yugi laughed, hands up in surrender. "I'm just wondering. We always used to talk about sex stuff before when you were with girls. Didn't think this would be different, but if it's too private, I won't pry."

"I just don't think Se—Kaiba would want me sharin' 'at kinda stuff. Plus, it's kinda embarrassin' to talk about since I ain't ever told anyone before. Hell, most people don't even know about us."

"It's okay, Jou. You don't have to say anything. Though I'm pretty sure everyone is going to find out."

"Yeah, I know. It's kinda nerve-wracking, but I can't keep it a secret forever. Wouldn't want to," Katsuya said quietly, settling down on a bench behind the counter.

"I don't blame you. I haven't told anyone about you two either, but you have my full support. No matter what."

Katsuya smiled. "Se—Kaiba probably would'a just gone public a few months ago. It's me that struggled. I wasn't ready for all the attention. But I guess I am now. Ain't got much of a choice with Mokuba's weddin'. But it's fine though. I wanna go as Se—Kaiba's date"

"I don't mind if you call him 'Seto', Jou."

"I know. Just seems weird sayin' it to people who aren't him," Katsuya explained.

"I'm just glad you're happy. And he looks happy, too. Even though he didn't say a word to me."

"Ehh. We're both tired. It's a long flight," Katsuya said, the yawn that escaped his mouth only emphasizing his point.

"Since everyone is back for the wedding, I was kind of planning on having a game night here tonight. Think Kaiba-kun would like to come?"

"Honestly? I think he would, but he's probably gonna be too tired to wanna hang out," Katsuya explained.

Yugi looked surprised. "He'd actually...want to come?"

"For me, yeah," Katsuya said with a shrug. "Yugi, man, I'm tellin' you, it's better than I dreamed it would be. Like we argue and shit, but we actually do get along. We compromise on stuff, and Seto just… he don't like to be lonely. He's fiercely loyal, too. It's real endearin'."

Yugi chuckled and shook his head. "I almost can't believe it, but I guess that's how he is with Mokuba, isn't it?"

Katsuya took a moment to consider the words, ones that vocalized something he'd thought about many times. Seto treated him like a family member. Not so much as a boyfriend or significant other, but as though he were a part of his family. Being a family member, a brother, was the only way Seto knew how to express love, he was sure. It worked just fine for him because being with Seto gave him a stable family for once, and he loved it. That feeling when they were at the house together, cooking dinner or discussing something random, cleaning up or getting ready to go out for the evening. That homey, domestic feeling. It was incredibly comfortable, and also equally as unexpected. Seto had become his family, and he behaved exactly as Seto would around a member of his family. Loyal, protective, and willing to please. Katsuya snorted at the thought. And Seto had called him a dog.

"You're right, Yugi. It's not… exactly the same as Mokuba, but it's pretty close." Katsuya brought his hand up and wiped at his upper lip, feeling a little embarrassed as he added, "S'like he's family."

Yugi nodded in agreement, and then Katsuya offered to help him with his work, the two conversing about whatever popped into their minds throughout the remainder of the day, catching up and laughing. Katsuya was enjoying himself so thoroughly, he didn't even realize how much time had passed, and before he knew it, he was receiving a call from Seto. "Hold on, Yugi. Gotta take this." Yugi flashed him a grin and an okay sign, and he stepped out of the game shop as he answered the phone. "Hey, Seto. What's up?"

"I'm finished for the day. Mokuba informed me that Yugi is having a gathering at his place tonight."

"Yugi mentioned it to me, too," Katsuya shared.

"What do you want to do?"

"I'm tired."

"That's not an answer," Seto stated, but Katsuya could pick up the joking tone.

"Ya didn't let me finish," he said, feigning offense. "I think we should stay up until like… a normal bed time. Try to readjust our sleepin' schedule. So let's go, and jus' stay for a bit. 'Til we're too tired."

"Do you want me to come or would you rather just spend time with your friends?"

"I told ya earlier. I'd rather be wit' you. So come, okay?" Katsuya said. "We gotta tell the others 'bout us anyway, and I'd rather do that with ya there."

Seto hummed into the phone. "Very well," he agreed. "I'll be over shortly."

"Okay, Seto. See ya soon." Katsuya disconnected the phone, tucking it into his pocket and then smoothing his unruly hair down. He had grown it back out after Seto mentioned he liked it better when it was longer. As he stood out there fixing his hair, Anzu walked up to him, wearing a chic jacket, hair pulled up in a ponytail, and a coy smile on your face.

"Long time no see. Your boyfriend coming tonight?" she asked teasingly. He'd seen her more frequently than anyone else lately.

"Course, he is," Katsuya mumbled.

"Did you tell everyone yet?" she asked, quieter, more sincerely.

"N-no," he stuttered. "But I'm gonna."

She put a hand on his arm and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "It'll be okay. Yugi and I have your back. And I doubt anyone is really going to care that much."

"I'm mostly worried about Honda," Katsuya admitted. "He's the one who might be a little weirded out by the whole datin' a guy thing. Everyone else is probably gonna be more shocked 'bout it bein' Kaiba."

"They're all going to be shocked when he's here tonight, in general. They'll adjust."

They walked back inside together, Yugi greeting Anzu enthusiastically and then beginning to put everything away for the day. Katsuya busied himself with helping Yugi close up. Seto arrived fifteen minutes later, striding in with his head held high and a scowl on his face. Katsuya almost burst out laughing at the sight, the image so different from how he usually saw Seto anymore, relaxed at home in t-shirts, jeans, and sporting a messy hairdo. Though he did look good in the dress slacks and white button-up with the sleeves rolled, Katsuya thought. Too good.

Jokingly, he said, "You gonna stand in the doorway, or ya gonna come over here and pretend to like at least one of us?"

Seto huffed but walked closer, not at all sure what to do with himself, so choosing to instead awkwardly hover nearby, arms crossed over his chest.

Katsuya chuckled at the sight and decided to make him less uncomfortable, considering that Yugi was pretty much finished. He went to stand beside him. "How'd the meeting go?" he asked softly.

"Fine. We have to talk after this, though."

Katsuya looked up at him, concerned. 'We have to talk' never boded well, and it put him on edge. "Is everything okay?" he asked, trying to keep the anxiousness he felt from seeping into his voice.

Seto softened beside him, gently caressing his hand. "It's nothing too serious. But you and I need to talk it over. It affects both of us."

Katsuya didn't really stop worrying despite the reassurance, but he tried not to let the words rattle him too much. Seto said it wasn't serious. Yugi finished up, and they all headed upstairs, Seto following close to Katsuya because he was clearly out of his element.

Katsuya had spent enough time around Seto at this point to know he was often unsure of himself. Within his comfort zone, he exuded confidence, but outside of that, he tended to stay aloof and distant, creating the cold Kaiba they were all well-acquainted with. Katsuya thought about giving him something to drink to loosen him up a bit, but Seto had seemingly been trying to stop drinking recently, and he could respect that, especially after doing so himself. Katsuya watched him meander over to the couch and sit by himself. Anxious and wanting to stay close by for whatever comfort Seto could offer him, Katsuya joined him shortly after.

Others started showing up shortly after that, and he got up to greet them, excited to see everyone again after so long. It had been years since he'd seen several of them. Bakura and Otogi were usually busy, and he'd only seen Honda and Yugi recently thanks to Kaiba bringing him back home for Christmas. He smiled ruefully at the thought. The Christmas trip which had ruined one relationship and served as a catalyst for another's beginning. Mokuba also showed up with Akane in tow, and Katsuya greeted them both enthusiastically, pleased to have finally met Mokuba's soon-to-be wife.

Everyone settled in, talking and catching up, getting introduced to significant others who had tagged along. Most of them raised their eyebrows at Kaiba sitting by himself on the couch. Honda finally asked, "So… he come here because Mokuba asked him to?"

Katsuya flushed. It was now or never. "He's here 'cause I asked him, actually."

"You?"

He nodded. "Yeah."

"I mean, I know he brought you back to Japan for Christmas, but I didn't know you were so friendly. When did you start getting along?" Honda asked, perplexed.

"We uh…" Katsuya struggled to say, looking over at Seto, noticing how left out he looked and feeling a bit guilty.

Anzu stepped in to rescue him. "Jounouchi and Kaiba-kun actually live together now," she chimed in. "So I'd say they get along just fine."

"Live together?" Bakura asked innocently. "So you're roommates? Is it strange living with someone like Kaiba?"

"S'not strange," Katsuya pouted. "It's nice."

Otogi was quicker on the uptake than the others, clearly piecing together the meaning of the phrases 'living together', 'roommates', and 'It's nice.' A devious grin spread across his face. "Ohhhh," he remarked aloud, voice full of insinuation.

Katsuya flushed in embarrassment, and the others who hadn't figured it out yet gazed at Otogi in curiosity. "What do you mean?" Honda asked.

"Jounouchi is dating Kaiba. Obviously," he said with a shrug.

Honda's gaze fell on him, piercing, before asking, "Is that true?"

And then Seto was suddenly beside him, towering over everyone else, commanding respect in the way only Seto could. Daring anyone to say something negative so he could put them in in place. Katsuya pressed close to his side, glad for his presence. "Yeah," he said. He grabbed Seto's hand, interlocking their fingers. "Yeah," he said more firmly this time, "I am."

Hond's expression went through a variety of stages, shocked, then something akin to weirded out, followed by a wide-eyed look of understanding, and then finally settling back to neutral. He sighed. "You know, as shocked as I am, I don't think I should be. Explains all the…" he flailed his hand about as he searched for the right word, finally selecting, "weirdness between you two."

Otogi grinned lecherously and remarked, "Sexual tension veiled as hatred, I believe is what you're trying to say, Honda-san."

Bakura simply smiled, congratulating them. "Well, I'm happy for both of you!"

And just like that, everyone that mattered knew, and while it was a little strange, no one really seemed to mind.

As soon as they left, Katsuya sighed in relief. It had gone well, but being the center of attention like that hadn't been fun. They'd all asked curious questions, intrigued regarding the how and why of their relationship. That had been tiring, and given that he was also exhausted from the flight, he felt drained. He wondered if Seto felt the same. The brunet sat stoically beside him, staring out the window, and he reached over to take his hand.

"What was it ya needed to talk about?"

"The board of directors wants me to come back to Japan," Seto stated, squeezing his hand firmly.

"Well… you are the CEO. It's probably a good idea to have ya closer."

"Katsuya," he said, sounding frustrated, "it means I'll have to move away from you."

Katsuya smiled and rolled his eyes. It certainly was just like Seto to be so all-or-nothing and overly dramatic. "S'not a problem if I move with ya."

"You would do that?"

"I kinda miss home," he said with a shrug. "I only left before to get a new start, and I did that. I can get myself certified to be an electrician here, too. And I'll get to see my friends and my sister more. I wouldn't mind, Seto. As long as you're fine wit' me taggin' along."

Seto chuckled lightly. "I kind of wanted you to talk me into staying in California."

"If that's what ya want, we can stay. I just… I'll go wherever you go. That's what I care about. Here or there. It don't make a difference to me."

"I have found a good… balance there. Living with you. I'm afraid moving here will tip that balance completely toward work."

Katsuya leaned close, kissing his cheek. "I won't let ya neglect me. Just say, 'No,' to their demands every once in a while. What are they gonna tell you?"

Seto snorted in what he assumed what amusement. "Nothing."

"I'm with ya no matter what you choose. Don't worry about me."

"Mmm," he hummed in agreement, and Katsuya pressed himself flush against Seto's side, relishing the heat radiating from his body. He loved watching Seto react to his closeness, how he'd often try to feign disinterest at first, but over time, he'd pull Katsuya closer. It was as though Seto didn't know how to handle casual physical contact, but he no longer froze up or tried to move away whenever it happened. He just seemed to accept that part of being with Katsuya was dealing with Katsuya's need for physical affection.

Feeling impish, he pressed a kiss to Seto's cheek, shifting subtly so that he could press a second kiss against Seto's throat.

"What are you doing?" Seto asked, but Katsuya heard the way his breath subtly hitched.

"Seein' what I can start," he answered coyly.

"I thought you were tired."

He put a hand on Seto's waist, giving Seto's neck another kiss. "I'm never too tired for a romp in the bedroom wit' ya."

"That is an outright lie," Seto said with a chuckle. "I seem to recall just the other weekend, when you fell asleep on my shoulder after making propositions."

"Okay, but you answered a call from Mokuba and took forever, so I got bored. That's not my fault."

"So I'm boring…? I'll keep that in mind."

Under his breath, he muttered, "Your face is boring."

Seto shot him a look and pushed him away. "If you care to not see it anymore, that can be arranged."

"No!" Katsuya exclaimed in mock horror. "How would I live without your face?" Seto still pushed him away, though half-heartedly, but he fought to stay close, clutching at Seto's sleeves. "No! Don't go, Seto! Your faaace!"

A deep laugh reverberated through Seto's chest, and he stopped trying to keep Katsuya at bay. "You're ridiculous," he stated. Katsuya instantly wrapped him in a hug, grinning.

They were quiet the rest of the short drive back to the manor. Katsuya thought he might have actually dozed off momentarily because he didn't really remember much before turning into the long driveway of the Kaiba manor. This time he waited for the driver to open the door, too tired to think not to. The driver waited for them to step out of the vehicle, something that took effort considering how tired he was. Seto stood beside him, rolling his head to get rid of tension in his neck and shoulders.

"My offer still stands," Katsuya stated as they made their way to the door, following it up with a yawn.

Seto took his hand, weaving their fingers together. "I suppose if you insist."

Katsuya snorted. "Whatever. Pretend like you don't want this hot piece of ass. You aren't fooling me."

This time Seto snorted, amused, but it worked because Seto led him straight to his bedroom, and they quickly locked the door, rid themselves of clothing, and slid into the sheets, breathless moans filling the spacious room and the contact warming them both.

Katsuya woke up to Seto missing from the bed. Not that there was anything unusual with that, but without knowing the layout of the manor, he had no idea where to go. His stomach grumbled, and he figured that if he got up and dressed, he could probably manage to find his way to the food. He slid on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and made his way downstairs. A maid turned and looked at him in confusion for a second, and then quickly said, "Follow me, Jounouchi-san."

"Please don't call me that," he requested.

"Ah, sorry," she replied bashfully. He followed her nonetheless, arriving at a dining room where Mokuba sat with Akane, both of them taking turns feeding their young daughter some kind of mushed food.

"Yo," Katsuya greeted as he sauntered in. "Mornin'."

"Good morning, Jou," Mokuba greeted warmly. "Thanks for coming. Have fun with Seto last night?"

He flushed at first but buried it under a lecherous grin. "I did. Thanks for asking."

Akane rolled her eyes, disproving of the banter. "Sorry if Momo-chan woke you up last night, Jou-kun. She just cried and cried."

"I didn't hear her," he admitted with a shrug. "It's no big deal."

A plate containing breakfast was placed in front of him after he sat down at the table, and he ate it all, watching Mokuba coo over his daughter, making her smile and laugh. He found it entertaining to see Mokuba so smitten with his daughter. "So uh… where's Seto?" Katsuya asked after finishing.

"Probably in his study," Mokuba replied without much thought.

"Um… so I don't know where anything is. Mind pointing me in the right direction?"

A smile bloomed on Mokuba's face. "So you just came home, and Seto dragged you straight to his room? He didn't even give you a tour?"

"Nope."

"That's very rude of him."

"I didn't mind too much at the time, all things considered," Katsuya retorted.

Snickering, Mokuba stood up and guided him to Seto's home study, a spacious room lined with bookshelves filled with books and a huge desk facing the door. There was a flat screen TV mounted on the wall beside the desk and a small leather sofa facing it. Something for Mokuba, he imagined. While he'd never actually been in Seto's office at the KaibaCorp headquarters, he'd seen it in pictures. Compared to the minimalistic and industrial office, Seto's study was earthy and organic. More like the real Seto he'd come to know.

"Rude of you to ditch your boyfriend his first day here," Mokuba jokingly chided from the doorway.

Seto flicked his eyes up and wordlessly went back to work.

"Well, maybe take a minute to show him around so he knows where he's going. He wandered into the dining room like a lost dog begging for scraps."

"Don't ya start that, too," Katsuya lamented, glaring at Mokuba.

Mokuba simply shrugged and walked away, leaving Katsuya just past the doorway of Seto's office. "Come and sit," Seto stated.

Katsuya did as instructed, sitting down on the sofa, marveling at how comfortable it was. "Whatchya workin' on?" he asked.

"I am required to make a speech at the wedding. I'm drafting it now."

"Oh." He pulled out his phone and let Seto work, finding the familiar click against the keyboard comforting. He stretched out on the couch, researching information he'd need to get started as an electrician in Japan. It wasn't boring, but he could feel his eyes fluttering as he resisted the urge to fall asleep. Eventually, he gave up and set his phone on his chest, allowing himself to close his eyes.

He wasn't sure if he'd fallen asleep or not when he heard Seto stand up, but he quickly sat up. "What are we doing today?" he asked as he stretched his arms over his head.

"I figured we could go look for a place to move into in the next month or so."

"Ehhh? Why? I mean, I guess we're movin' here, and that's cool, but why do we need a place to live? Can't we live here?"

Seto sighed, then explained, "Because there's no way I can share this house with a child that cries so much."

He recalled Akane apologizing about her daughter crying at breakfast. "Oh. I didn't hear her at all."

"Of course, you didn't. You sleep like you're dead."

"Weird. I'd 'a figured I thrashed around a lot."

"I struggle to sleep, in general."

"I know ya do, Seto."

"I couldn't share a bed if you were moving and waking me up all the time. It's the same with noises. She's far too noisy."

"Makes sense," he agreed. "So I guess we're going out to look at places."

Seto nodded, and then walked out the door wordlessly. Katsuya hurried to reach him, taking his hand and threading their fingers together. He took a glance at Kaiba and noticed how tired he looked. He clearly hadn't slept much overnight, so as Seto led him to his bedroom, Katsuya suggested, "Why don't we take a nap first? It's early, I'm tired, and you should be able to sleep better now."

"Because it's a waste of our time."

"Like an hour?" Katsuya suggested. "Set an alarm and then we'll get ready an' go out. That sound okay?"

"I won't sleep in that time."

"Ehh… You can try. I can sleep, at least. I like sleepin' with you next to me. And maybe you'll nod off for a bit."

"I'm already dressed," Seto denied. "Sleep more if you must, and I'll wait for you."

Katsuya sighed, knowing that there would be no changing Seto's mind on this. "Fine. Let me take a shower and get dressed. I'll be like fifteen minutes."

Seto nodded. "I'll be in my office when you're ready. You do remember how to get there, yes?"

"Straight down the hall. To the right."

"Very good." Seto turned on his heel and walked back out of the room, leaving Katsuya on his own. Now that he was alone, he quickly headed to the bathroom to shower and change. It took him closer to 20 minutes to get ready, mostly because he couldn't find where the house staff had neatly hung his clothes in the closet beside Seto's. Dressed in a fresh pair of jeans and a flannel button-up over a t-shirt, he made his way back to Seto's study.

Seto gave him a once over before nodding. "You an' your constant appraisal of my outfits…" Katsuya grumbled. Seto himself wasn't dressed any differently from his usual. Khaki pants and a dark green sweater.

"I don't necessarily do it on purpose," Seto explained. "I'm just always intrigued in what clothing you decide makes an acceptable outfit."

"You ain't no fashionista either, ya ass."

Seto ignored the comment. "Today, however, there is the possibility that our house hunting could run us short on time to prepare for the rehearsal dinner. I'll have an acceptable outfit brought over later, if necessary."

Which made a lot of sense, honestly. So Katsuya enthusiastically said, "Okay!"

And then they were off, the two walking downstairs together, Seto giving him a bare bones tour of the house by pointing out both the kitchen and dining room, as well as the main living room. They made their way to the front door where Isono awaited them. "Where to, Kaiba-sama?"

"We're going to look at apartments. So… I suppose a realtor is where we should start."

Isono nodded wordlessly, opening the door for them. It was a quick ride over to the realtor's office, and the man was excited to tell them all about the high-profile properties on the market, showing them several pictures. Katsuya had to chuckle because it was very obvious that none of them were what Seto had in mind. "There were two I saw online that I wanted to see."

"Oh? Which?"

Seto said which they were, and the realtor frowned. "They are nice penthouse apartments, but surely they are well below your price range, Kaiba-sama. Are you sure you wouldn't prefer one something more modern? These are a bit dated."

Seto said nothing, fixing the man with a glare. He visibly gulped, and Katsuya had to fight down a snicker. Served him right for arguing with Seto over something so stupid. Not that Katsuya never argued with him over stupid shit. Just Katsuya's opinion actually mattered to Seto, and clearly, the realtor's opinion did not.

Without any further protest, they were driven to the first of two places. Katsuya thought it was cozy. Spacious, with a similar vibe as his place back in California. Belatedly, he realized that was probably what Seto wanted. Something homey and domestic because he actually liked that. The second place had a similar feeling, as well as a faux fireplace, which Katsuya found tacky, if he was being honest. "Do you like either of these?" Seto asked quietly as their walk through the second apartment concluded.

"The first one ain't bad. Feels homey."

"It's more comfortable than the mansion," Seto agreed. Which, Katsuya figured, was another part of Seto wanting to leave. Escaping the manor meant fully removing himself from Gozaburo. And Katsuya was well aware of how scarred the man had left Seto. Had seen the scars, had kissed them, had heard Seto profess his darkest secrets, his shame at being weak and powerless to fight against Gozaburo's torment. How he'd erased his own memories to fulfill the man's expectations. Their home had become Seto's refuge away from his hurt. A private space. A home. That's what Seto had probably always been looking for, and Katsuya thought, he probably had been too. A home. A place where they both belonged.

"I like it," Katsuya said firmly. "We should get it."

Seto smiled, tight-lipped and fighting back the expression. If Katsuya hadn't known him so well, he'd have missed it.

They'd had plenty of time, even after filling out paperwork, to return to the manor and change for the rehearsal dinner. Katsuya felt out of place, standing in the back watching Seto go through the motions with Mokuba, Akane, and Akane's single bridesmaid, her sister. No one said anything to him, and he simply watched the walkthrough. It wasn't anything spectacular, really. He was looking forward to the food later more than anything else. Food was part of the excitement, of course, but it was mostly the fact that his friends would be there to celebrate. The upcoming wedding had created an exciting atmosphere, and even if the excitement wasn't his, he would enjoy it.

Being around Seto had given him a healthy appreciation for a well-fitted suit. Seto looked fantastic in them. And he knew damn well that Seto thought the exact same thing about him, too. Additionally, well-fitted meant it was comfortable. The small collection of suits Seto had purchased for him were some of the most comfortable pieces of clothing he owned, and while they weren't his normal choice, he didn't mind wearing them.

So he sat in a chair on the lawn of the ritzy venue hosting Mokuba and Akane's wedding, wearing a charcoal-colored three-piece suit, staring at Seto in a black suit. It wasn't like it was a long distance. He sat in the very front with Yugi beside him. Seto was maybe two meters in front of him, within easy ogling distance, and while he probably should have been paying attention to the ceremony, all he could think about was exactly how he'd be taking off Seto's suit later.

A bad idea, he realized, as he felt his body react to the thoughts. He cleared his throat and shifted his position, accidentally drawing Yugi's attention, the shorter man looking over at him curiously. He shook his head, and then actively spent the rest of the time not thinking about Seto. He let his brain wander to more innocuous things, like what he'd have to start packing up once he got back home and what sort of furniture they might want in their new place. There would be paperwork he'd have to do, too. It would be a hassle getting a new ID and get certified as an electrician in Japan, but it would be worth it. Definitely worth it to be back home with both Seto and his friends.

He was drawn from his thoughts as the ceremony concluded, Mokuba kissing his wife and those in attendance cheering. Someone, Honda or Otogi, wolf-whistled, and then the new husband and wife happily walked down the aisle together. After that, they were guided to the reception area, where hors d'oeuvres were served, and he picked up a few as they mingled and chatted, staying close to his high school friends. Akane and Mokuba had to take sunset pictures after the ceremony, and Seto had been roped into going with them for a family portrait.

It was the first he'd been around his friends without Kaiba next to him, so they nearly instantly began to pick on him with Anzu paving the way. "You think you're going to dance with Kaiba tonight?"

"M-maybe," he stuttered.

"You should do it, Jou!" Yugi encouraged.

"Ehhh…"

"Kaiba too chicken?" Honda teased.

"Nah. I just...he and I decided not to distract people from Mokuba and Akane's big day. Dancin' together would get people talkin', ya know?"

"Do you want to dance with him?" Anzu questioned.

"'Course, I do," he agreed, flushing. "But I ain't bringin' it up."

"Honestly, Jou, I'm so glad you two are so happy together," Yugi shared. "I worried Kaiba was going to hurt you."

"I mean...I think we were tormentin' each other at first, not knowin' how to proceed once the feelin's started happenin'. And I was with Alexa at the time, and it was hard. I'm glad everythin' worked out."

"How is Alexa, by the way?" Anzu asked.

"I haven't kept up wit' her, honestly, but I think she started datin' someone else a couple months ago." He shrugged not wanting to talk about it, but Anzu was only asking out of concern for an acquaintance she'd been fairly friendly with.

Bakura smiled gently and belatedly contributed, "I think you should dance with Kaiba, Jou-kun. You'll regret it if you don't."

"Mmm," he acknowledged, and almost started laughing at himself because it was such a Kaiba way to respond. They were picking up each other's habits, weren't they?

"So are you gonna stay here a few days or are you headed back after this?" Otogi asked.

Katsuya smiled. "So actually, I have big news. Seto and I are goin' back on Monday, but the KaibaCorp directors want him to move back here."

"Ooo so that means…?" Anzu trailed off.

"Yep, I'm movin' with him. We found a place and everything. We're just waitin' for all the paperwork to go through, then we can move in."

"That's really cool, Jou-kun!" Yugi said. "It'll be great to get to spend time with you again."

"Yeah!" he agreed with a smile. "This way we can see our families. And I'll be excited to see you guys, too. Seto and I'll still be livin' together. I'm really excited."

"You'll have to drag Kaiba out with us sometime," Honda said. "Maybe we can finally become friends."

"Get your own boyfriend. I ain't sharin' mine," Katsuya flippantly denied.

Honda was laughing. They were all laughing. "Nah, I'm good."

Katsuya couldn't recall having been in such bright spirits in a long time, smiling ear to ear.

"Jou-kun!" he heard called from a distance, pulling his attention away from his friends. He saw Akane hurrying toward him. "Jou-kun!" she exclaimed as she got nearby. "Come on. I want you in some of my pictures. You're a part of Seto-sama's family. You should be in the pictures, too!"

Katsuya beamed and followed along behind her. It was nice to be included. Akane directed him to stand next to Seto. "Look like you two like each other," she teasingly instructed. Seto grumbled but wrapped an arm around Katsuya's waist, pulling him close. They smiled for the photographer, getting moved into slightly different line ups, and after a few moments, they were finished.

Seto didn't let him go, holding him close even after they were told they could go. "Would you want to do this someday?" he asked.

"Get married?" Katsuya clarified, heart pounding rapidly at the previously unconsidered suggestion.

"What else would I mean, Katsuya?"

"I don't know!" Katsuya said quickly. "I… I dunno. I hadn't thought about it before. But I think I would." A moment of consideration. "Yeah. I definitely would."

"Mmm."

"That's all you're gonna say?"

"For the moment," Seto said, dismissing the topic entirely.

"And you call me annoying…" Seto said nothing further and started walking toward the reception area, but Katsuya still held onto his hand, slowing his progress. "Will ya dance with me later tonight?" he asked softly, embarrassed.

"Of course, Katsuya," Seto replied, stopping suddenly and pulling him into a warm embrace. A quick kiss was pressed to his forehead. "I'd gladly make a fool of myself for you."

The tender moment ended just as quickly, but Katsuya couldn't stop staring at where their fingers entwined. He laughed softly, heart full. Everything else on this world paled in comparison. He held Kaiba Seto's heart, and Kaiba Seto held his. It was nothing he'd have ever expected, but God damn, it was perfect.

A/N:

Thank you all for sticking with me through this. I am planning a (filled with magical nonsense) sequel. This was always intended to be the set up for that story. The how and why of them being together rather than just dropping you into an established relationship. While I do love starting a story in the midst of an established relationship, I wanted to do more with this. To build it slowly, over time. To gradually show their relationship change and grow. I do still plan on writing that story, but I'm not so sure I'll consider it a sequel anymore. It may perhaps become a stand-alone. I've got many other things in the works too, so… we'll see.

This story is close to my heart for a lot of reasons, one of them being how much like myself I wrote Kaiba.

I have refrained from sharing before that the title of this story is based on a line in a song, fittingly named Letting Go (by Kids in the Way, if you're interested). The line goes, "Letting go is the hardest part of loving you," and more than anything, that was what I was trying to express throughout this story.

Once again, thank you for reading and sticking with me! I really have appreciated all of the support. I thought for sure I was getting back into Yugioh to ship these two and would find a dead fandom. I'm so glad I was wrong.

Please look forward to more in the future~!