Eight days. Eight days and Seto had gotten nothing from the blond. Jou hadn't turned in a transfer, hadn't quit, had barely said anything to him aside from what was strictly needed for work or school. He stared at the blond who sat at his desk working hard. Seto was at a loss. He didn't want to know if they were officially over. At the same time he wanted to know. Sighing he shut down his computer for the night ready to head home. The stress of the past eight days was wearing on him. "Jounouchi, go home." He barked causing the blond to turn and look at him. Their eyes met but Jou was too far away to read any emotion in them.

"Damn it!" Slamming his hands down on his desk Jou stood marching into to the CEO's office. "Seto, why haven't you said anything about the gift I left you?" Jou growled glaring daggers at the brunet who gave him a confused little cock of the head. He leaned forward across the brunet's desk staring the brunet down. Jou had been waiting to see how the brunet responded before he made his next move. He wanted to see if this plan would work. He wanted Seto to know he was going to fight for them. He was going to fight for Seto.

"What gift?" Seto asked looking at the irate blond. Jou stomped over to him throwing open the small center drawer of his desk that he rarely used. Inside was a flat square box wrapped in simple brown paper a note attached to the top.

-S

The battle is on!

-J

The note was not elegant and there were no undying declarations of devotion but it was Jou and the meaning was clear. The blond was fighting for him. For them. A small smile flickered at the corners of Seto's lips as he looked at the box. "Its been close to a year since I've even opened that drawer. Next time try just putting it on my keyboard, my shoe locker at school, or have a messenger drop it at my house." Seto said smoothly lacing his fingers together, resting his chin on them while looking at the blond. The last two were a hint to the often clueless blond who still didn't seem to understand he was Jou's, Secret Kiss. Seto hadn't made it hard to guess who was sending the gifts to Jou. His lover either didn't see it, or refused to. Seto didn't mind either way. He loved Jou just the way he was.

"How the hell was I supposed to know that?" Jou yelled at the smugly smirking brunet. That little smirk irritated him as did the hints to the brunet's identity as his Secret Kiss. He really was an idiot. He leaned over meeting those intense vivid blue eyes with a stare all his own placing his hand on the back of Seto's chair. "Putting my mistake aside, I'm fighting for you. Expect more mistakes from me. I'm not perfect. Jut know I'm fighting and I won't ever stop. I fight for those I care about. I'm sorry it took me this long to fight for you." Jou whispered hotly into the brunet's ear. "I should have been fighting for you since they very beginning." He nipped lightly at Seto's ear smirking as Seto moaned softly sinking against him.

"When did you put the gift in my drawer?" Seto asked feeling a shudder of desire race down his spine. He needed to know how long Jou had needed to think. He needed to know how long he had accidentally kept the blond waiting.

"Six days ago." Jou murmured lightly licking at the shell of Seto's ear. It hadn't taken him long to make a choice. It had taken all of a few hours to miss the brunet so much he could barely breath. After that it had been a matter of finding the perfect gift.

Two days was far better than Seto had expected. He had expected Jou to take at least four days to miss him enough or dismiss him outright. A small little moan escaped from the back of his throat as Jou teased his ear. It was odd that he never considered his ear a sensitive spot until just now. He tilted his head exposing his neck to the blond who eagerly took the invitation. He let out a soft shuddered breath. "Come over tonight." He begged softly wanting to give in fully to the blond. Seto believed in love before sex. Jou was willing to fight for him him. That was enough for now. He would willingly give the blond damn near anything at this point. He panted as Jou lazily placed hot kisses along his flesh lightly tugging at his tie while undoing the first few buttons on his shirt.

The clear offer in Seto's voice nearly broke Jou's resolve. This was the man he loved. He had been desiring Seto Kaiba for far longer. He had never pushed the sex issue because he was willing to wait. "I can't. I want to prove to you I'm really willing to fight for you. We'll have to wait." Jou purred softly against the tender flesh of Seto's long graceful neck. "Just so you know, I really want to." Jou whispered softly against Seto's throat that let out the most delectable little moan he had ever heard. It was getting harder every second to say no to going to Seto's house to finish what they had started here. Seto was letting out pleased little whimpers as Jou lightly trailed his tongue over the salty skin. Really hard to keep saying no. He pulled from the brunet's neck to straddle his lap and pull him into a searing hot kiss. Their tongues battled in a languid dance. Jou had missed this. He had missed Seto desperately. He loved this man. He pulled from the brunet giving him one last soft kiss.

Seto let out a small plaintive little whine as Jou pulled from him. He blinked his vision clear of the cloud of desire that hovered about him as he looked into clear warm chocolate eyes. "I love you." He whispered to the blond who gave him that warm smile that could light up his whole day.

Unable to resist stealing another kiss from the brunet Jou, captured Seto's plush lips in a teasing kiss. He pulled away biting hard on his lip to keep him from further temptation. "Open your damn gift already. I'm heading home. I'll see you tomorrow." Jou muttered stealing one last kiss as he slipped from Seto's lap leaving the office and swiftly gathering his things for the day then leaving.

Letting out a small little whined huff as Jou left, Seto waited a moment to collect himself before he reached for the simply wrapped gift. He tore open the paper looking at a nice wooden box of his favorite tea. He gave a small smile feeling warmth fill him. Jou paid attention to what he liked. That said a lot about the blond. He also knew the blond had to put at least a little effort into finding the tea since it was out of season. He opened the bottom drawer he always kept locked looking at the finely crafted crystal dragons that sat inside. He stroked the heads of both the black and the clear dragons fondly. The little flower of hope that he had slowly felt shriveling burst back into full brilliant bloom inside of him once more. Jou was willing to fight for him. For now that was enough.

Fixing his shirt and tie Seto grabbed his brief case and left the office. His feet felt as if they had wings. He felt light as a feather. Tomorrow he'd have his beautiful blond secretary make him his favorite tea. He was almost giddy at the thought. He almost couldn't wait to see what the blond did next.