Play Your Part, Yugi
Chapter 26
Confessionals
As soon as Bakura made it back to the classroom, he was cornered by Jou, much to his dismay. Now, the blond did not really look angry, but he was clearly not happy with the fact that it had taken them so long to follow after him. Jou's face twisted up strangely, like he was being indecisive about whether the teen should be angry or amused. Just as Bakura began to wonder how the latter emotion connected to the situation, the answer came in the form of Jou blurting out: "I think I have a date with Seto."
"You think?" Bakura could not help but utter. After all, he had seen the way the brunet in question crowded Jou, not giving any room for misunderstandings on terms of his intentions. Bakura knew that Kaiba was straightforward; he often glared at the other jealously when he spoke to Jou.
"He agreed to be a stand-in for the play and now I'm supposed to go over to help him practise his lines", Jou explained as his face gave away to the feeling of anger. "Like hell he needs any help. I bet he's just bluffing in order to catch me alone and then pull some moves on me."
Not sure he really wanted to know, Bakura bit for the bait anyway and queried: "What moves?"
"You know", Jou spoke as he waved his hands slightly, warming up to the topic. "Like, putting his arm around my shoulders when he thinks I won't notice, sitting too close to me or then speaking to me with his voice lowered in that sexy way."
"Your tone of voice tells me that you're looking forward to it", Bakura commented truthfully, releasing a snort he had been unable to fight back.
"You're full of it", Jou said defensively before glancing to the doorway over Bakura's shoulder. "Where are Yugi and Otomya?"
"Probably scheduling for a date", Bakura replied with distaste. "I forced them to confront each other. Don't ask about my method's though." Jou would beat him into the next week if he found out that he had gone and kissed the blond's best friend, even if it had been by the other's request. Fortunately enough, Jou usually was more comfortable with not knowing what Bakura did behind his back, as long as he did not come across any corpses.
There was a peculiar look on Jou's face, though, as the blond seemed uncertain of how to react. In the end the brown-eyed teen settled for uttering, even if hesitantly: "That was…um, nice of you."
"Don't say that!" Bakura snapped in a hiss. "I did it out of selfish reasons." Then the albino lowered his voice. "I might have a crush on Yugi, probably."
"W-what?" Jou questioned incredulously, lips twisting in a manner that warned of forthcoming nervous laughter. It would have been too embarrassing to listen to, so Bakura spoke up before the first chuckle could escape: "I thought that I should help him, since he's such a nice kid and all, but then I figured that perhaps I like him a bit too much."
"Whatever brought that on?" Jou questioned in a pleading tone, and Bakura explained: "He's just my type, you know. Submissive and soft to the touch." At that last part Jou had spoken up the exact same words, managing to even mimic the tone of voice Bakura used. The white-haired teen frowned at this as he grumbled: "Does it echo here?"
"No", Jou replied in an offhanded manner as he turned around, clearly intending to go and see if anyone needed any help. "You just repeat yourself in rapid succession." With that the blond walked off with Bakura stomping after him, agitated.
Ten minutes earlier...
"Y-Yami?" Yugi whispered quietly and Yami's gaze immediately fell on the shorter boy. The crimson-eyed teen saw Yugi shoot a nervous glance at Bakura walking in front of them before uttering: "Could we perhaps talk?"
There was a short pause, after which Yami nodded his head once and the two of them came to a stop while Bakura vanished around a corner. Yami doubted it was really that easy to shake the white-haired teen and guessed that the other had simply decided to let them be before directing his attention to Yugi again and speaking out: "What is it, Yugi?"
"I…I want to know how you feel", Yugi mumbled with the most adorable of blushes on his cheeks. "I mean, I know what Bakura said back there, but I want to hear it from you. Did his words hold any truth? Do you want…me?" That last part was uttered softly while those amethyst eyes gazed into his own searchingly.
Only one real, truthful answer existed to that question and so Yami spoke: "Yes, Yugi, I do want you." A brilliant blush rose to the soft, pale cheeks of the shorter boy and Yami cupped the other's face gently with his hand, brushing a thumb across a rosy cheek. "And I would fight for you. Of that I am certain now." Truth be told, when Yami had first seen Yugi in Bakura's arms, he had been ready to whip out his trusty switchblade and give the albino a haircut that he would not have been soon to forget. The fact that he had done no such thing was proof that the crimson-eyed teen truly had managed to change during his stay in Domino. And it was all thanks to Yugi.
"Then I guess that makes us boyfriends", Yugi spoke up finally, the flush on his cheeks lessening into a cute pink as he smiled at Yami widely. The taller teen gave a smile of his own, feeling possibly equally happy with the other even as his smile paled in comparison, and nodded his head before speaking: "I think I like the sound of that. Boyfriends."
Yami had never had a boyfriend or a girlfriend before, only occasional… Well, Yami did not really have a word for them. But, the teen decided that he did not really need one, since they were all ancient history now. All he needed from then onward was Yugi, as long as they could last.
Suddenly the red on Yugi's face darkened and the boy released a nervous laugh while rubbing the back of his head. Yami lifted his brows in a curious manner and Yugi explained: "Jou is probably ready to pull his hair out waiting for us."
"Good point", Yami agreed with a nod. And then there was, of course, that overly enthusiastic literature teacher they had supervising the project. She would not be happy if Yugi and Yami were gone incredibly long.
The two teens walked towards the classroom in silence for a while, but it was a comfortable one. It still did not last for long, however, before Yugi spoke out: "Yami? I was wondering if you'd like to come over to my house after school."
Unable to help the teasing smile that came to his lips, Yami spoke in amusement: "Wow, we've been together, what, five minutes and you already want to introduce me to your family."
A deep flush came over Yugi's cheeks once again, Yami was growing very fond of that particular shade of red, and the boy hurried to explain himself: "I just have this one game that I thought we could play together." Yugi was fidgeting with the cardboard he was carrying nervously. "That is, if you'd like to." The amethyst eyes glanced down to the floor. "Unless you would prefer something more romantic?"
Now it was Yami's turn to blush as the crimson-eyed youth uttered: "A game sounds good." He coughed into a fist nervously. "I'm not much of a romantic, actually. Stuff like that makes me feel awkward."
Instead of laughing at him like Yami had feared the other to do, Yugi merely smiled at him fondly before saying: "You're sweet", and brushing the matter off with that. And it was just in time, as they arrived at the class door right then. Yami was the one to push the door open, since he had a hand to spare with the rise paper fitting into a single box positioned underneath his arm, and the shorter boy entered the room first with Yami right behind them.
The two were instantly cornered by Jou, who marched over to them and immediately spoke out: "There you two are." The blond looked slightly annoyed but nothing more than that so Yami did not think they were in too much trouble as the other questioned: "What took you?"
Yugi became a nervous mess, however, and merely mumbled weakly: "Umm", while Yami spoke out: "Stuff." He really did not feel like sharing his and Yugi's personal business, even if it was with Yugi's best friend.
It seemed that Jou understood, since the boy released a short laugh before releasing Yugi of his burden and taking the pile of cardboard into his own hands as he spoke: "Sensei thought that you two had bolted while Bakura suspected that you had decided to elope."
Yami released a scornful scoff before grumbling: "Bakura can think whatever he wants." That earned him a scolding sideways look from Yugi as the shorter boy mumbled: "Yami, can't you at least try to forgive him? It was really all my fault, after all."
"You're incapable of malicious intent, Yugi, so I know that you meant no harm", Yami answered deadpan. "Bakura, I'm not so sure of."
A pout appeared on Yugi's face as the boy complained: "I wouldn't say 'incapable', but rather 'unwilling'."
That brought a smile on Yami's face and he turned to the shorter teen to give him a tender look as he spoke gently: "You're an angel, Yugi", and watched in adoration as Yugi blushed once again.
"Ookay", Jou drawled then, drawing both lovers' attention on him. "I think I'll just go over there…" He pointed into a random direction in the room and then scurried into the opposite one. Yami and Yugi both blinked after him in confusion before Yami smirked in an amused manner and spoke to his companion: "I think we made your friend uncomfortable."
"I don't think so", came Yugi's curt and strangely certain response. Then, a moment later, the sound of Jou's laughter came from the general direction the blond had taken off to. Yugi released a short giggle himself before giving Yami a smile and saying: "See? He's fine."
&
The end of the school day found Katsuya in Seto's living room with the brunet as his only company. Seto had been glancing at the clock every five minutes or so, at least it seemed like that to the younger boy. The blond had really not wanted to leave with Seto, especially to the brunet's house, but he knew that it would have been downright crude of him to back out after saying that he would go.
Katsuya knew that he was acting stupid, and it was all because of those strange feelings Seto had managed to stir inside of him. The blond had decided that it was not Seto's fault how he felt, so the blond had done his best to act friendly towards Seto during the ride to the house, telling the amused brunet about how Yugi and Otomya seemed to have gotten together, by Bakura's assistance even.
After the arrival at the large, manor-like house Seto lived in, Katsuya had willingly followed the brunet into the living room and gone through some parts of the scenes with the brunet.
Still, the way Seto constantly kept an eye on the clock unnerved Katsuya. It meant that Seto was plotting something, but the blond had no idea what it might have been. But, he supposed that it should not matter to him, since Seto had not once done any harm to him.
At ten past four Seto suddenly closed his script and threw it onto the coffee table, turning his gaze to Katsuya as he spoke to the brown-eyed boy, tone deceivingly impassive as he questioned: "Do you like to dance, Katsuya?"
"Y-yeah, I guess", the blond stuttered as an answer and felt a bit uneasy with the odd question. The whole thing started to make a lot more sense when Seto continued, changing his question slightly: "Would you like to dance?"
"Huh?" Katsuya managed to utter intelligently, blinking in a startled manner as Seto stood up and offered the shorter teen his hand. Finally managing a real response Katsuya questioned in an incredulous manner: "Right here and now?"
The taller teen merely smirked confidently, and just then a soft tune started to play from the radio sitting on the side of the room. Finally realizing what the brunet had been planning all along, but unsure of what Seto hoped to gain with this, Katsuya reached out and grasped the offered hand and allowed Seto to pull him up from the couch and into his arms.
It had been a months since the two of them had last danced together, but still Katsuya found his body settling against Seto's own with ease. Suddenly it felt like no time had passed at all when Seto's hands fell to Katsuya's hips and the blond's own hands rose to grasp the blue-eyed male's arms.
"Katsuya", Seto murmured while the two were moving to the gentle melody. "I need to tell you something, something that has been on my mind for a long time."
The gentle tone had Katsuya curious, but it also calmed down any forthcoming worry, so the blond was able to simply listen quietly when Seto pulled back to look into his eyes as he spoke: "It's what I tried to tell you in the beginning of the school year." The brunet took a deep breath and sighed softly, before starting again. "Last summer, I knew it was you, Katsuya."
"W-what?" Katsuya stuttered, not sure if he understood correctly. Fortunately to him, Seto continued on: "I had never seen Jounouchi Shizuka before, but I had seen Jounouchi Katsuya plenty of times. I recognized you the moment our eyes met on that first lesson."
"What?" Katsuya repeated, this time a shrill cry as he made to pull away from Seto's grip but the brunet's arms wrapped themselves around his back to hold him still. Seto was not done talking yet, which became apparent when the brunet's voice once more spoke: "I saw it as my chance to get you to know a different side of me, a side that is a lot more mature than the one you encountered during our first year of high school." The brunet brought their foreheads together gently, gazing into Katsuya's eyes with sincerity as he finished: "It's a side that wants to be closer to you."
If Katsuya had said that he was unaffected by Seto's words, he would have been lying. His heart was beating ten times faster and he was sure that his face was a dark scarlet by now. But he did not care about that. He only cared about the fact that Seto was holding him, and that it felt good. Seto cared about him, and that felt even better. He could stay like this forever, and that felt more amazing than anything had ever before.
"I guess it worked then", Katsuya murmured softly to the taller teen. "I certainly see you in a new light now." The blond could not help but smile as he admired the bright blue of Seto's sapphire eyes. They disappeared from his sight for a brief moment as Seto blinked slowly before questioning: "And do you like what you see?"
A short laugh bubbled from Katsuya's mouth, one of happiness, and the blond tilted his head to murmur into Seto's ear: "I think I do, very much so." And it felt right.
&
'Aw crap, aw crap, awcrapcrapcrap…' Katsuya mentally raved as he burst through the door into the house he lived in with his father. His afternoon had been absolutely wonderful. He and Seto had made out some and the brunet had made sure to keep all of his touches within the boundaries of acceptable behaviour and even though the two of them had not discussed their relationship any further, Katsuya knew for a fact that the two of them were way past the category 'friends with benefits' now. There was no going back and Katsuya did not mind at all.
That was where the problem lied. Katsuya had only just now realized that he was helplessly in love with Kaiba Seto. Of course the blond had suspected that before, he had told Mai so, but it was still shocking to have the emotion come slapping him in the face when he had been in the middle of a very passionate kiss with Seto. It was frightening for him to realize just how comfortable he had been with the thought of staying with the brunet; he was certain that simple attraction did not run as deep as his feelings did.
Truth be told, Katsuya considered himself childish. He had never thought himself capable of mature feelings but here he was, deeply in love with the brunet he had been with up until mere minutes ago as the other teen had taken him home. Katsuya did not really know what to do with himself and his feelings; he was too young to have found his life partner and it was not certain that Seto's feelings went as deep as his own. But if Seto did feel the same…
"Katsuya?" Osamu's voice questioned then as footsteps approached the doorway, where Katsuya was still standing. The blond jumped in surprise and forced the images of white silk and glittering silver out of his mind as he replied shakily: "I'm home, dad."
Osamu appeared in the hallway a moment later and gave Katsuya a wide smile as he spoke: "And how was your day?"
"Fine", Katsuya said with a sigh. "Except that I realized that I'm gay and in love with one of my classmates." Looking at his father, the blond boy tried to determine the man's reaction. Osamu looked startled for a moment, but the expression was soon replaced by a thoughtful one as the man queried: "That Seto you brought here last Friday?"
"Uh!" Katsuya gasped, startled that his father could figure it out so quickly. "Y-yeah."
"I thought he looked familiar", Osamu spoke in a neutrally thoughtful tone that was mostly directed at himself. "He's that boy from last summer." He then smiled at Katsuya, though a tad hesitantly. "He seems like a good match for you, polite and calm, though he is a tad bit grabby."
"Seto is not grabby, dad", Katsuya replied with an embarrassed huff. "You're just being protective." The blond paused, wondering why his father seemed to be so open-minded about this. "Dad?" he questioned. "Why are you so okay with this?" The teen glanced at his feet in embarrassment. "I mean, I won't be giving you grandkids if I turn gay."
"Katsuya", Osamu spoke out gently, stepping forward to grasp his son's shoulder in a comforting gesture. "I must say that I never did expect you to come to me with a confession like this, considering everything that has happened." The man then backed away to smile at his son encouragingly. "I think that this is a sign that you really are on your way to recovery."
"That's what I've been trying to tell you", Katsuya replied with a huff, crossing his arms over his chest. "I don't need any shrink."
"We'll see", Osamu answered before questioning curiously: "How does he feel about you?"
Not about to tell his father about the grope fests Seto seemed so fond of, Katsuya settled for saying: "I wouldn't know, since he doesn't know how I feel either."
"Why don't you confess to him then?" came the older Jounouchi's question. Katsuya huffed indignantly at the words before replying: "I'm not going to give him any pink letter; that would be girly."
"Oh?" Osamu queried with a lifted eyebrow. "And I suppose sitting around angsting about the matter is a very manly thing to do." The sarcasm was very evident in the man's voice and Katsuya felt his cheeks heat up as he glowered at his father, who merely patted him on the head before walking back into the living room.
With a heavy sigh Katsuya removed his shoes and started making his way to his room, all the while wondering why it seemed like everyone could outsmart him that day.
To be continued…