To Make the Season Bright
by Moonchild DJ and Sukino
**************************
Sukino: Lookie what we have. .. .A new story. . . and we haven't even finished the other ones. . *sweatdrops*
Moonchild DJ: True..*pokes Sukino* But you KNOW we had to do a season- themed fic!
Sukino: *smiles* Duh . .demo we should try and finish this one before December is over , ne?
Moonchild DJ: *grin* No problem! It's not novel-length like our others, so it should be a snap! *crosses fingers*
Sukino: *laughs* Yeah. . .I hope. . .well this one was all Dee's Idea. . .*beams* I'm so proud!!
Moonchild DJ: *blushes and digs her toe in the ground shyly* Awww...'tweren't nothing...
Sukino: *smiles* aww don't you look Kawaii all red and stuff?. .
Moonchild DJ: *giggles* You do the same, you know! When I compliment you on a ficcie idea! So nyah! *sticks her tongue out, then giggles again at its candy-cane-striped motif* Uh...celebrating the season early..? Sukino: just a tad. . . .but then I have reindeer antlers on right now so. . .. *smiles*
Moonchild DJ: *giggles* And you look so cyute with them, too! It's no wonder we came up with a holiday-themed Seto/Jou...
Sukino: Yep and I love it to pieces!!
Moonchild DJ: *smiles and waves out at the readers* And we hope you like this fic, too! We think ish kawaii!
Sukino: So read it and then review so we know if you do like it. . .we have to know how we are doing ^^
Moonchild DJ: *giggles and hangs a Christmas ornament off of one of Sukino's antlers* Hai! Reviews keep us alive!
Sukino: Dee-chan you are a riot. . . well I suppose we had better go work on the many of stories we have to finish, ne?
Moonchild DJ: *beams* Hai! We have to please our readers! *grabs a candy cane and starts eating it* Sugar to keep me going...only I don't bounce all over the place like a certain someone...*grins*
Sukino: *eyes glaze over looking at the candy cane* SUGAR!! *starts to leap for it*
Moonchild DJ: *shrieks and races off in fear for her life and her candy cane* IIE!! You can't have it!! Help!!
Sukino: *runs after her* SUGAR! I WANT IT!!!
Moonchild DJ: Enjoy the storiiiiieeeeeeeeeeee!!!!
Sukino: *too busy chasing the sugar to say anything but sugar* SUGAR!!!!
**********
Seto Kaiba frowned, rolling his eyes as he saw fellow classmates decorating the school halls for the holidays as he walked to class the day that Thankgiving vacation was over. "Ugh...barely Thanksgiving's over, and this is happening..." he growled to himself.
What was there to be so happy about? Christmas was a waste of time and money. If it wasn't for Mokuba, he wouldn't celebrate Christmas at all, it was too depressing. No friends, no family, just his business and Mokuba. "Bah, humbug." he snarled, walking on.
Katsuya Jounouchi smiled to himself as he set the first present of many on Seto's desk, skipping back to his seat. He knew that Seto didn't go for Christmas. Well...all that was about to change, he hoped, waiting for Seto and eager to see his secret crush's reaction. He glanced up when he heard the door open, picking up a book nonchalantly.
Seto reached his seat with a grumpy sigh, flopping his suitcase down. Seeing the early decorations had already put him in a mood, and it wasn't even Christmas yet, only the first of December. Looked like he was going to have a bad season. He blinked at the small gift on his desk, just realizing it was there after his mental rant. "Nani...?" He sat down, examining the gift curiously as he pushed his hair out of his eyes.
Jou looked at him from behind the book, smiling at the confused frown on the CEO's face. 'Hope he likes it...' he thought to himself, holding his breath as he watched.
Seto frowned some more, opening the gift with some confusion. He blinked in surprise as he unwrapped a delicate gold-chained pendant that had a charm of "SK" in sapphire blue, his eyes widening. "N-nani...?!" he croaked out softly, gasping. ".....Beautiful..." He fingered the gift gently, thinking to himself. 'Who gave this to me? Why would they go to all the trouble?' He unclasped the clasp of the pendant and fastened it around his neck.
Jou almost giggled in joy, restraining it, before going back to reading, but he couldn't prevent himself from glancing at the older boy again.
The brunette had raised the pendant in his hand, glancing down at it in stupefied amazement.
Jou grinned, looking at him almost lovingly. 'He does like it!!!' he thought gleefully.
Seto lay it back down against his chest gently, curving his fingers to rest against his chin as he thought. 'This has to be some sort of Secret Santa thingie...' He glanced around at his fellow classmates and their desks. 'But no one else has gifts...why me?'
Jou kept looking at him, not noticing Seto looking around. He was still thrilled that Seto liked his gift so much, proud that he surprised him with a gift.
Seto, unfortunately, caught his look, frowning at the blond's intensity. "What are you looking at, mutt?" he growled softly, though not with the usual cold tone. He was still too stunned over the gift to act his normal self.
Jou jumped in surprise, flushing slightly at having been caught staring. "Nothing!" he squeaked, swallowing nervously.
Seto narrowed his eyes. "Then go stare at something else..." he grumbled absently.
Jou growled, going back to his book. Maybe it didn't get through to him this time, but there was still time..
The older boy tucked his hair back behind his ear and went back to his own studies, glancing down at the pendant and fingering it again. 'Who would care so much to give me such a gift?'
******
Jou sighed, getting his books from his locker at the end of the day. Regarding Seto, it looked like he had a long way to go. He had surprised him with the gift, but that was it. Well...there was still twenty-four more to go...
Seto growled and sidestepped a sprig of mistletoe near the hallway arch as he moved to his locker near Jou's. "Baka decorators..." he muttered as he opened the locker door.
Jou blinked at him. "Kaiba, just what is your problem with Christmas?"
"It's overrated. All of it. Christmas sucks big time." Seto replied flatly.
The blond boy frowned. "Whatever..." He closed his locker door and walked off to go home.
Seto sighed and grumbled to himself as he put his stuff away, slamming the door as he too headed home. "What would you know, anyway. You have a family and friends...you're more lucky than you know, Jounouchi."
******
The next day after school, Jou placed another gift on Seto's desk at KaibaCorp, hurrying out before he came to work, shoving his hands into the pockets of his coat and sliding away when he saw the brunette go in.
Seto yawned tiredly, dragging himself into the office. "Sometimes it sucks to be CEO of a company...." he grumbled. With school, work and Mokuba, he could easily wear himself out. He blinked as he saw another gift, this one larger, on his desk. "Nani...??" He glanced around, not seeing anyone but the normal workers. Looked like his Secret Santa had struck again, this time at work. He frowned, walking to his desk.
Jou stopped and looked up at the building as he walked away. "You'll like Christmas yet, Seto Kaiba, if I have anything to do with it." That was a promise he intended to keep.
The young CEO opened the gift, melting at a crystal-made Blue Eyes White Dragon that caught the light in myriad colors. He swallowed, touched at such a beautiful gift, setting it carefully beside his laptop computer and staring at the roaring dragon. "Who could be so...understanding of gifts for me...who could possibly even care?" he wondered, chewing on his lip. There must be some way to find out..
******
Jou arrived at school early a few days later, placing yet another gift in Seto's locker, having asked a friend of his whose locker was close to Seto's to get the combination for the lock. "I hope he likes all of these..." he murmured, glancing around, pushing back his bangs from his eyes nervously.
Seto walked his way down the hallway, also early to school to work on an extra-credit project, one of Jou's fellow friends and classmates, Anzu Masaki, following on his heels. "There's no way I'm going to a Christmas party! I'm not that type, Anzu, can't you leave well enough alone and leave me in peace?"
Jou squeaked in surprise, running off around the corner and peeking around the wall at them silently.
Anzu pouted as she stood beside Seto as he stopped at his locker. "But everyone's going, Kaiba! It'll be fun!" she protested.
"Which is why I'm not going!" Seto blinked as he noticed that his locker was a little open. "Okay, who was in my locker..." he muttered, opening it to find the gift.
Anzu grinned. "Ohhh, looks like someone has a Secret Santa...." She giggled as she saw Seto pull the gift out.
Seto flushed at the words, glancing down at the gift in his hands. "Someone who understands me too well..." he murmured, smiling as he remembered the previous gifts.
Jou grinned at the words. "Better than myself.." he whispered to himself.
Anzu bounced excitedly beside Seto. "Openitopenitopenitopenit!!"
Seto sweatdropped. "Someone's had too much coffee...no way!!" He hugged the gift to him when Anzu reached for it.
The brunette-haired girl grinned at Seto's protectiveness. "Special, ne...?"
"....Very..."
Jou blinked in surprise, blushing. 'He thinks the gifts are special...'
Anzu squealed and singsonged. "Someone's got a cruuuush, someone's got a cruuuuuush..."
Seto blushed furiously. "I think I liked your friendship speeches more..." he muttered.
Jou blinked. 'He has a crush on me?! Demo...he doesn't know it's me....'
Seto sighed, glancing at the girl impatiently. "If I agree to go to your party, will you leave me alone?" he grumbled.
Anzu bounced again, truly hyper at the news. "Haihaihaihaihaihai!"
"FINE!!! Kami, leave me in peace!" Seto sighed and watched Anzu go before eagerly tearing open the gift.
Jou smiled at the sight. 'He is really liking this...' His heart melted, seeing the tall older boy acting like a little kid over the present.
Seto's eyes widened, restraining himself from melting as he unwrapped a stuffed Blue Eyes plushie, hugging it close. He hadn't felt this happy since he was a child. "Whoever you are, Secret Santa-person...thank you for everything..." he murmured softly.
"You are very welcome Seto...but I'm not done yet..." Jou whispered to himself.
Seto placed the plushie tenderly in his briefcase, smiling as he gathered his books and pulled himself together. It wouldn't do to have Seto Kaiba be so giddy in class.
Jou smiled secretly and slipped out of his hiding space, going to his locker and opening it normally.
Seto blinked as he saw him around the locker door. "You really ought to restrain Anzu from having coffee in home ec class..." he murmured thoughtfully in a somewhat-civil tone to the blond.
"She IS a bit highstrung, ne..?"
"A bit is an understatement. She was bouncing in place when she asked me to her party. I suppose you'll be there..."
Jou nodded. "Hai..."
Seto grunted. "Well..I'll try to be civil, mutt, but I make no guarentees..parties aren't my thing."
"That's all I ask..." Jou murmured quietly.
Seto nodded and continued on to class. 'Must be the gifts...I'm even being nice to Jounouchi!'
******
About a week later, Seto trudged through the snow, hands shoved in his pockets as he walked to Anzu's party, his breath coming in dragon-like puffs in the air from the cold. "Don't know how I let myself be roped into this...wait..yes, you do...to open that gift in private from your wonderful Secret Santa...I wonder who they are, I STILL don't know, twenty-one days and twenty-one gifts later..." he muttered to himself.
He stomped the snow off of his shoes as he opened the door, walking inside and brushing the snow off of his coat as he took it off and hung it up. He wandered into the room, feeling kind of awkward in such a crowd, glancing around.
Jou pushed a hand through his hair nervously as he glimpsed Seto. He took a deep breath and walked over to him, trying to remain cool and normal. "Hey, Kaiba...somebody was here, said to give this to you..." He shrugged nonchalantly, giving him another present.
Seto frowned, taking the gift. "Someone was here? Who were they, did you see?" He struggled to remain calm and keep his voice normal, but there was an almost desperate tone to it. This Secret Santa was driving him crazy..
Jou shook his head, mentally wincing at the tone. "Nope, I didn't see them...sorry.."
The brunette sighed as he glanced down at the gift. "Just who are you, mystery Secret Santa..." he muttered to himself, fingering the ribbon around the small gift.
"...Well, just don't look at it.....open it!"
Seto blinked at him, clutching it close protectively before opening it. He gasped as the wrapping revealed a small box that contained a ring, decorated with a small engraving of Seto's precious Blue Eyes crouched over a sapphire jewel. "Oh...!" he managed to squeak in surprise and awe.
Jou beamed mentally at his reaction, managing to look surprised at the gift without jumping around happily. "Wow...it's beautiful, Seto..." 'I hope he likes it...I had to get it specially made...' He nibbled on his lip nervously as he watched Seto out of the corner of his eye.
"It's...gorgeous..." Truly touched at such a beautiful gift, Seto barely knew what to say as he stared at the gift. This had to have been specially made..which meant that his Secret Santa had gone through a lot of trouble for him..such a marvelous thing..he wished he could thank the person.
"Who is this person, Seto, that's doing this?" Jou asked, breathing a tiny sigh of relief that his gift was so well-liked. 'Thank God Dad has such a good job and understands I love Seto...too bad he won't here for Christmas...away on business...'
Seto shook his head. "I don't even know who it is..." He took the ring and placed it on his hand, flushing slightly when he realized he put it on his ring finger automatically. 'Has this person been able to touch me so much?'
Not being able to take not telling him it was him giving him all the gifts, Jou sighed, running off to talk to a group of friends. 'Hurts too much...'
Seto blinked at his quick movement, frowning briefly. He wondered what was up with him, gasping as he was bumped and jostled in that direction. "Too many people.." he grumbled, trying to mill around the people. "Now I know why I hate parties..."
Jou, still upset, tried to avoid him as best he could, but fate, and a few misplaced elbows, stepped in.
"Ack!!" Seto yelped as he rammed right into Jou, rubbing his arm as he glared at the people behind him.
"Itai!!" Jou winced and looked up at him in surprise. 'Is fate playing a sick joke or something...?' he wondered to himself.
But fate wasn't done yet.
Seto frowned at him. "Gomen, didn't mean to..." He started to apologize and happened to glance up. "Oh boy....you've got to be kidding me..."
Jou blinked, frowning. "What...?" He too looked up, flushing. "....Oy...."
Right above their heads gleamed a sprig of mistletoe tacked cheerfully to the ceiling. And we all know what that means...
Seto went to take a step back, blushing, but again, fate intervened. Instead of moving back, he was shoved forward instead by the crowd, somehow ending up pushed into an awkward kiss with Jou. His eyes widened in surprise, stiffening.
Jou gasped, pulling back slowly as he stared at Seto. "Oh my God.." he breathed.
Seto stared back, his lips tingling pleasantly, though it didn't feel right, somehow. He hesitated, then reached out and pulled him back. "....Might as well do this right, ne?" He lowered his head, kissing him right this time.
Jou moaned into his mouth, leaning into Seto as his brain fuzzily registered that Seto was kissing him. His fingers lightly rested on his chest, shivering slightly.
Seto gasped at the contact, pulling him closer for more. He liked this..wanted this..he couldn't believe he was doing this! Jounouchi was his enemy..right?
Jou finally got his head back together and pulled back, panting. "What was t-that..?"
"I...don't know..." And it was true...he had no idea what to call this...
Jou glanced down, not knowing what to say.
"I...I should go..." Seto stammered. He glanced at the mistletoe and stumbled backwards, feeling awkward. What DO you say to a person that you just kissed that is..or was..your worst rival?
Jou's shoulders slumped. "Hai..." He sighed and turned around, walking away. 'He can't stand me...'
Seto turned the opposite direction himself, rubbing at his neck and wondering at the kiss. He touched his lips in awe as he wandered off, sighing.
The blond sighed, glancing around. "Can't stay here...." He turned and got his things and his coat, going home without a word.
******
Seto plopped down in front of the fireplace in the living room of his home, having left early himself. He stared into the flames absently, long after Mokuba had gone to bed. He glanced down at the ring, then touched the pendant he still wore. "You're a special person, whoever you are...but why do I feel as if I'd betrayed you by kissing Jou? He hates me after all..doesn't he? I must be out of my mind..." he muttered softly. He curled up in the sofa, falling asleep there, somehow feeling more lonely than ever.
******
Jou sat on his bed, staring moodily into space. "He kissed me...but did it mean anything to him ..at all..." He sighed, turning off the light, and went to sleep with the troubling thought still in his mind.
******
The next morning, Jou woke early, heading to KaibaCorp to drop off another present on his desk. "Hmmm.. two days till Christmas..." he muttered, glancing at the gift. Was he making any headway at all, or was it a lost cause? He still didn't know, it was so hard to tell with Seto. The guy was stubborn and never showed his feelings..he didn't know if he had a chance or not.
Seto yawned, not having put in a good night's sleep, having decided to come in to work early. He shuffled tiredly, opening the door as he rubbed at his eyes with a hand. "Ohayo, Mariko.." he muttered to his secretary as he went by.
Jou gasped, hearing him coming. He dashed out of there, running out as fast as possible.
Seto, even though being less than awake, still was able to see a fleeing shadow out of the corner of his eye. He gasped, giving chase to the potential thief. "Hey!!" he shouted.
Jou gasped silently. 'He can't catch me!!' He ran as fast as he could down the stairs, almost out to safety.
The brunette followed after him as much as he could. What he didn't count on was tripping over his own feet because of his own tiredness, and falling down the stairs with a sharp yelp of pain, crashing against the side of the wall with a groan.
Jou hesitated. He was so close..he sighed softly and turned back. 'I can't just leave him there...' He went back to him, pulling his hood up over his hair and face, changing his voice a bit. "Are you okay...?"
Seto glanced up at him dazedly. "Who...?" he mumbled. He tried to get up, but fell back down with a hiss, clutching his ankle.
"Take it easy...I think you sprained it...."
Seto gritted his teeth as a wave of pain washed over, his hand automatically coming up to grip at the pendant, a source that somehow brought him comfort. "Wo...wonderful..." He sagged back against the wall, panting.
Jou swallowed nervously. "Want me to call someone for help...I'm kinda late for something..."
"Be...fine...." Seto staggered to his feet, wavering. He then fell forward as a wave of vertigo threatened to knock him off balance, gasping in pain.
Jou gasped, rushing forward to steady him. "No, you aren't." 'If he sees me, oh well...I can't leave him hurt...'
"Dizzy.."
"Just take it easy...." Jou managed to manuver him over and sit him down on a stairstep, sitting next to him in concern as he watched him.
Seto groaned and massaged his head, his ring flashing clearly in the light.
Jou's heart flutterd happily as he spotted it. 'He wears it...!'
Seto shook his head, then glanced at him, his vision still a bit off to center. "What are you doing here, in the first place...you don't work here...and barely anyone's here at this hour.." he murmured.
Jou swallowed. "Was..umm...droppin' some kinda gift off for my friend.....some secret Santa thing for Seto Kaiba...you know him?" he stammered out a little.
Seto blinked. "Your friend or Seto Kaiba? 'Cause if you mean the latter..." He held up his pendant silently, the initials shining in the light.
"Ohhh, so YOU'RE Seto Kaiba...." Jou smiled. "He said you were cute..."
Seto blushed. "Who's your friend....?" he asked curiously.
"Can't tell ya....I promised him..demo he says he will meet you on...umm, Christmas Eve....at the park where the big Christmas tree is lit up..."
"Christmas Eve...one day away.." He clutched his pendant, his mind wandering over the very many wonderful gifts he'd been given by this Secret Santa. He then sighed as he remembered Jou's kiss. "...Alright...arigato..."
"Welcome...will you be okay now....?"
"Think so..." Seto leaned against the banister, hissing as he got to his feet. "Though my ankle says no.."
"Want me to help ya to your office?" Like he needed any excuse to want to be near him, he realized sheepishly.
"Onegai? It's a long way back..." Seto hated to sound weak, but he didn't think he could make it back himself.
Jou nodded. "Hai..." He wrapped an arm around his waist, helping up the stairs slowly.
Seto leaned against him, keeping most of his weight off the ankle as much as he could. "So...if you were delivering the gift...why did you run?" he asked, glancing at him.
"He told me not to get caught...so I panicked..."
"And ran like the fires of Hell were on your tail..." He mistepped and yelped, his hip against his as his body pressed closer accidentally.
Jou swallowed hard. 'Oh gods...' "Be careful..."
"Gomen..." Seto stutter-stepped, his arm looping around his waist to keep his balance.
"It's ok...just don't want ya gettin' hurt..my friend would be distraught..." He helped him up the stairs and back to his office.
Seto flopped down into his chair with a sigh, closing his eyes for a moment as he rested his ankle. "Arigato...maybe there's something you can tell me.." he murmured, opening his eyes to glance at him.
"Hmm...what's that?" Jou asked, cocking his head curiously.
"Why is your friend doing this? I mean...I don't even know them...who they are, if I know them..I've been getting gifts for twenty-three days..and I don't even know why.."
"He told me he really cares about you....well, loves you, and he wanted your Christmas to be special, so he came up with giving you gifts for twenty-five days....speaking of which, I wonder what you got this time...?"
Seto blushed at his words. 'Love...me....?' That was a surprise...he picked up the gift on his desk quietly. "Only one way to find out..." He unwrapped the gift carefully.
Jou took a silent breath, closing his eyes, then opening them. 'Gods...I just hope he doesn't find me out...' he prayed silently.
Seto unwrapped the gift and gasped, pulling out a single uniquely-colored rose with a tab on the stem, surprised by this present. "Nani?? I've never seen a rose this color...deep red, orange, even a hint of blue at the edges...." He fingered the petals carefully and read the tab. "'Firerose. Symbolizing will, strength, determination, a fiery spirit and heart.' Sugoi...!" he breathed, once again amazed at his Secret Santa.
Jou smiled to himself. "It's very pretty...well, I'd better go, I'm already late..." He turned to leave. " Ja..."
Seto, stunned at the gift that matched his personality, almost forgot to respond, staring at it still. "Ja...arigato...oh...will you tell the secretary at the desk to bring in a flower vase?"
Jou nodded, blushing. "Hai.." He left the room, taking a calming breath. "God...I'm going to pass out, my heart has been racing..." He told the secretary as promised, then bolted back home.
******
Seto pushed his thoughts back to work, although he couldn't resist glancing every so often at the rose with a smile. 'This person knows me so well...everything about me...too bad that he and Jou aren't the same..wait a minute...!' He sighed and pushed a hand though his hair, flushing. "It was just a kiss...wasn't it?"
******
Jou sighed as he reached home, his heart still racing. "I wonder if he will be disappointed that it's me...he hates me...I think..." Even he wasn't sure now of what Seto's feelings were...
******
Seto growled softly and banged his head dully against the desk after finding his mind zeroing back to the kiss. "It was just a kiss, it was just a kiss...but why is it I feel like I'm betraying Jou with this mystery person, and this mystery person with Jou..." He sank down in his seat, staring up at the ceiling. "This is so confusing....I wanna cry..." Suddenly, he couldn't wait for Christmas Eve. And that sounded strange, even to himself.
******
Christmas Eve arrived, its quiet time finding Jou waiting in front of the tree as promised, with gift twenty-four in his hands as he watched the snow fall silently in the soft evening glow.. "Here goes nothing. . . .just breathe..." he muttered to himself, swallowing nervously.
******
Seto hobbled to the area, forced to use a cane by his doctor until his ankle got better, crunching through the snow as his thoughts whirled. 'There's this guy who's wonderful and knows me like nobody else has, not even Mokuba..someone who makes me feel special, and loved, something I haven't felt since our parents died...and then there's Jou..I thought I didn't feel anything until that kiss, but it brought up a whole new bunch of questions..oh, why can't they be the same person?!' He glanced around, the christmas lights reflecting off his face and the snow glistening in his hair as it fell softly.
Jou took a breath and moved closer, seeing him hobble over. "It's now or never..." He pulled his hood over his head, hiding his face as he approached him.
Seto blinked, seeing the approaching figure out of the corner of his eye. He turned his head to blink in surprise, taking a soft breath as he watched him.
"Seto........" Jou moved in front of him, standing there for a frozen second.
The brunette swallowed nervously, his mouth having gone dry. "H'lo..." he half-croaked, his hand tightening on the cane.
Jou stared at him for a few seconds before pulling himself out of his stupor. "Hi....oh, here....." He held out the gift to him, blushing as he realized he'd been staring at him instead.
"Arigato...demo, could you open it?" Seto motioned to his cane sheepishly. " I'm holding myself up here..."
Jou nodded, mentally swatting himself for his stupidity. "Are you going to be okay?" he asked as he opened the present for him.
Seto nodded. "I'll be fine in a few days, give or take..." He leaned forward to see what he unwrapped, plus also trying to see past the hood, though without much luck.
"Good..." Jou held the gift out so he could see, biting his lip nervously.
The taller boy gasped as he saw a golden-gilt-covered picture frame of his and Mokuba's long-gone parents, tears coming to his eyes. He had no pictures of them whatsoever... "Wh....wh....where did y-you get th- that...?" he stammered softly.
"I've been looking for a year and a half....I finally found this..a friend of your parents had it and I had it framed..." Jou replied just as softly, his heart breaking and melting at the same time at the look on Seto's face.
Seto choked back a sob, a shaking hand reaching out to trace the pictures of the man and woman. "Gods....n-no one has ever given me such...." His voice cracked, starting to clog with tears. "...Such a w-wonderful gift...a- arigato..." He raised his hand to his face, wiping his eyes as tears came.
Jou raised a hand himself to Seto's face, wiping his tears away. "I'd do anything for you, Seto..." he murmured quietly.
Seto swallowed again, tear-filled blue eyes searching him. "Why? Wh-who are you...?"
Jou bit his lip nervously, his heart ramming against his chest as he pulled back his hood, glancing down. "'Cause I love you..." He glanced back up at him, eyes holding all the fear of rejection he was feeling.
Seto gasped, his eyes widening. That blond hair...the honey-brown eyes... "J-Jou...?! Oh gods..." he breathed.
**********
~End Chapter 1~
**********
Sukino: *rubs her head* . . you didn't have to hit me. .. I would have stopped. . .
Moonchild DJ: *huffs* 'kino-chan...you were gnawing on my arm when I wouldn't let go of the candy cane...
Sukino: *flushes*. . . .gomen nasai. . .demo you know me and sugar. . . Moonchild DJ: Unfortunately...which is why I stashed the rest...
Sukino: *pouts* I can't even have one. . .
Moonchild DJ: *giggles* How about a half? I'll just hide in my sugar-hyper- proof/flame-proof bomb shelter until you're finished bouncing..
Sukino: yay!! *glomps*
Moonchild DJ: I may regret it, though...like I'll probably regret the end of this chappie...
Sukino: *groans* You did it again . . .didn't you?
Moonchild DJ: *squeaks* Hai...
Sukino: Oh lordie. . . . you do have a deathwish, don't you?
Moonchild DJ: Uh...no?
Sukino: *grabs her arm* let's go then before you get mauled. . . .
Moonchild DJ: *squeaks, clinging to her* They wouldn't maul me, would they? Oh, wait...yes, they would, for not finishing my OWN stories!
Sukino: Well readers review for us ok? we need them to live . . .*hurries to RP land with Dee in tow*
by Moonchild DJ and Sukino
**************************
Sukino: Lookie what we have. .. .A new story. . . and we haven't even finished the other ones. . *sweatdrops*
Moonchild DJ: True..*pokes Sukino* But you KNOW we had to do a season- themed fic!
Sukino: *smiles* Duh . .demo we should try and finish this one before December is over , ne?
Moonchild DJ: *grin* No problem! It's not novel-length like our others, so it should be a snap! *crosses fingers*
Sukino: *laughs* Yeah. . .I hope. . .well this one was all Dee's Idea. . .*beams* I'm so proud!!
Moonchild DJ: *blushes and digs her toe in the ground shyly* Awww...'tweren't nothing...
Sukino: *smiles* aww don't you look Kawaii all red and stuff?. .
Moonchild DJ: *giggles* You do the same, you know! When I compliment you on a ficcie idea! So nyah! *sticks her tongue out, then giggles again at its candy-cane-striped motif* Uh...celebrating the season early..? Sukino: just a tad. . . .but then I have reindeer antlers on right now so. . .. *smiles*
Moonchild DJ: *giggles* And you look so cyute with them, too! It's no wonder we came up with a holiday-themed Seto/Jou...
Sukino: Yep and I love it to pieces!!
Moonchild DJ: *smiles and waves out at the readers* And we hope you like this fic, too! We think ish kawaii!
Sukino: So read it and then review so we know if you do like it. . .we have to know how we are doing ^^
Moonchild DJ: *giggles and hangs a Christmas ornament off of one of Sukino's antlers* Hai! Reviews keep us alive!
Sukino: Dee-chan you are a riot. . . well I suppose we had better go work on the many of stories we have to finish, ne?
Moonchild DJ: *beams* Hai! We have to please our readers! *grabs a candy cane and starts eating it* Sugar to keep me going...only I don't bounce all over the place like a certain someone...*grins*
Sukino: *eyes glaze over looking at the candy cane* SUGAR!! *starts to leap for it*
Moonchild DJ: *shrieks and races off in fear for her life and her candy cane* IIE!! You can't have it!! Help!!
Sukino: *runs after her* SUGAR! I WANT IT!!!
Moonchild DJ: Enjoy the storiiiiieeeeeeeeeeee!!!!
Sukino: *too busy chasing the sugar to say anything but sugar* SUGAR!!!!
**********
Seto Kaiba frowned, rolling his eyes as he saw fellow classmates decorating the school halls for the holidays as he walked to class the day that Thankgiving vacation was over. "Ugh...barely Thanksgiving's over, and this is happening..." he growled to himself.
What was there to be so happy about? Christmas was a waste of time and money. If it wasn't for Mokuba, he wouldn't celebrate Christmas at all, it was too depressing. No friends, no family, just his business and Mokuba. "Bah, humbug." he snarled, walking on.
Katsuya Jounouchi smiled to himself as he set the first present of many on Seto's desk, skipping back to his seat. He knew that Seto didn't go for Christmas. Well...all that was about to change, he hoped, waiting for Seto and eager to see his secret crush's reaction. He glanced up when he heard the door open, picking up a book nonchalantly.
Seto reached his seat with a grumpy sigh, flopping his suitcase down. Seeing the early decorations had already put him in a mood, and it wasn't even Christmas yet, only the first of December. Looked like he was going to have a bad season. He blinked at the small gift on his desk, just realizing it was there after his mental rant. "Nani...?" He sat down, examining the gift curiously as he pushed his hair out of his eyes.
Jou looked at him from behind the book, smiling at the confused frown on the CEO's face. 'Hope he likes it...' he thought to himself, holding his breath as he watched.
Seto frowned some more, opening the gift with some confusion. He blinked in surprise as he unwrapped a delicate gold-chained pendant that had a charm of "SK" in sapphire blue, his eyes widening. "N-nani...?!" he croaked out softly, gasping. ".....Beautiful..." He fingered the gift gently, thinking to himself. 'Who gave this to me? Why would they go to all the trouble?' He unclasped the clasp of the pendant and fastened it around his neck.
Jou almost giggled in joy, restraining it, before going back to reading, but he couldn't prevent himself from glancing at the older boy again.
The brunette had raised the pendant in his hand, glancing down at it in stupefied amazement.
Jou grinned, looking at him almost lovingly. 'He does like it!!!' he thought gleefully.
Seto lay it back down against his chest gently, curving his fingers to rest against his chin as he thought. 'This has to be some sort of Secret Santa thingie...' He glanced around at his fellow classmates and their desks. 'But no one else has gifts...why me?'
Jou kept looking at him, not noticing Seto looking around. He was still thrilled that Seto liked his gift so much, proud that he surprised him with a gift.
Seto, unfortunately, caught his look, frowning at the blond's intensity. "What are you looking at, mutt?" he growled softly, though not with the usual cold tone. He was still too stunned over the gift to act his normal self.
Jou jumped in surprise, flushing slightly at having been caught staring. "Nothing!" he squeaked, swallowing nervously.
Seto narrowed his eyes. "Then go stare at something else..." he grumbled absently.
Jou growled, going back to his book. Maybe it didn't get through to him this time, but there was still time..
The older boy tucked his hair back behind his ear and went back to his own studies, glancing down at the pendant and fingering it again. 'Who would care so much to give me such a gift?'
******
Jou sighed, getting his books from his locker at the end of the day. Regarding Seto, it looked like he had a long way to go. He had surprised him with the gift, but that was it. Well...there was still twenty-four more to go...
Seto growled and sidestepped a sprig of mistletoe near the hallway arch as he moved to his locker near Jou's. "Baka decorators..." he muttered as he opened the locker door.
Jou blinked at him. "Kaiba, just what is your problem with Christmas?"
"It's overrated. All of it. Christmas sucks big time." Seto replied flatly.
The blond boy frowned. "Whatever..." He closed his locker door and walked off to go home.
Seto sighed and grumbled to himself as he put his stuff away, slamming the door as he too headed home. "What would you know, anyway. You have a family and friends...you're more lucky than you know, Jounouchi."
******
The next day after school, Jou placed another gift on Seto's desk at KaibaCorp, hurrying out before he came to work, shoving his hands into the pockets of his coat and sliding away when he saw the brunette go in.
Seto yawned tiredly, dragging himself into the office. "Sometimes it sucks to be CEO of a company...." he grumbled. With school, work and Mokuba, he could easily wear himself out. He blinked as he saw another gift, this one larger, on his desk. "Nani...??" He glanced around, not seeing anyone but the normal workers. Looked like his Secret Santa had struck again, this time at work. He frowned, walking to his desk.
Jou stopped and looked up at the building as he walked away. "You'll like Christmas yet, Seto Kaiba, if I have anything to do with it." That was a promise he intended to keep.
The young CEO opened the gift, melting at a crystal-made Blue Eyes White Dragon that caught the light in myriad colors. He swallowed, touched at such a beautiful gift, setting it carefully beside his laptop computer and staring at the roaring dragon. "Who could be so...understanding of gifts for me...who could possibly even care?" he wondered, chewing on his lip. There must be some way to find out..
******
Jou arrived at school early a few days later, placing yet another gift in Seto's locker, having asked a friend of his whose locker was close to Seto's to get the combination for the lock. "I hope he likes all of these..." he murmured, glancing around, pushing back his bangs from his eyes nervously.
Seto walked his way down the hallway, also early to school to work on an extra-credit project, one of Jou's fellow friends and classmates, Anzu Masaki, following on his heels. "There's no way I'm going to a Christmas party! I'm not that type, Anzu, can't you leave well enough alone and leave me in peace?"
Jou squeaked in surprise, running off around the corner and peeking around the wall at them silently.
Anzu pouted as she stood beside Seto as he stopped at his locker. "But everyone's going, Kaiba! It'll be fun!" she protested.
"Which is why I'm not going!" Seto blinked as he noticed that his locker was a little open. "Okay, who was in my locker..." he muttered, opening it to find the gift.
Anzu grinned. "Ohhh, looks like someone has a Secret Santa...." She giggled as she saw Seto pull the gift out.
Seto flushed at the words, glancing down at the gift in his hands. "Someone who understands me too well..." he murmured, smiling as he remembered the previous gifts.
Jou grinned at the words. "Better than myself.." he whispered to himself.
Anzu bounced excitedly beside Seto. "Openitopenitopenitopenit!!"
Seto sweatdropped. "Someone's had too much coffee...no way!!" He hugged the gift to him when Anzu reached for it.
The brunette-haired girl grinned at Seto's protectiveness. "Special, ne...?"
"....Very..."
Jou blinked in surprise, blushing. 'He thinks the gifts are special...'
Anzu squealed and singsonged. "Someone's got a cruuuush, someone's got a cruuuuuush..."
Seto blushed furiously. "I think I liked your friendship speeches more..." he muttered.
Jou blinked. 'He has a crush on me?! Demo...he doesn't know it's me....'
Seto sighed, glancing at the girl impatiently. "If I agree to go to your party, will you leave me alone?" he grumbled.
Anzu bounced again, truly hyper at the news. "Haihaihaihaihaihai!"
"FINE!!! Kami, leave me in peace!" Seto sighed and watched Anzu go before eagerly tearing open the gift.
Jou smiled at the sight. 'He is really liking this...' His heart melted, seeing the tall older boy acting like a little kid over the present.
Seto's eyes widened, restraining himself from melting as he unwrapped a stuffed Blue Eyes plushie, hugging it close. He hadn't felt this happy since he was a child. "Whoever you are, Secret Santa-person...thank you for everything..." he murmured softly.
"You are very welcome Seto...but I'm not done yet..." Jou whispered to himself.
Seto placed the plushie tenderly in his briefcase, smiling as he gathered his books and pulled himself together. It wouldn't do to have Seto Kaiba be so giddy in class.
Jou smiled secretly and slipped out of his hiding space, going to his locker and opening it normally.
Seto blinked as he saw him around the locker door. "You really ought to restrain Anzu from having coffee in home ec class..." he murmured thoughtfully in a somewhat-civil tone to the blond.
"She IS a bit highstrung, ne..?"
"A bit is an understatement. She was bouncing in place when she asked me to her party. I suppose you'll be there..."
Jou nodded. "Hai..."
Seto grunted. "Well..I'll try to be civil, mutt, but I make no guarentees..parties aren't my thing."
"That's all I ask..." Jou murmured quietly.
Seto nodded and continued on to class. 'Must be the gifts...I'm even being nice to Jounouchi!'
******
About a week later, Seto trudged through the snow, hands shoved in his pockets as he walked to Anzu's party, his breath coming in dragon-like puffs in the air from the cold. "Don't know how I let myself be roped into this...wait..yes, you do...to open that gift in private from your wonderful Secret Santa...I wonder who they are, I STILL don't know, twenty-one days and twenty-one gifts later..." he muttered to himself.
He stomped the snow off of his shoes as he opened the door, walking inside and brushing the snow off of his coat as he took it off and hung it up. He wandered into the room, feeling kind of awkward in such a crowd, glancing around.
Jou pushed a hand through his hair nervously as he glimpsed Seto. He took a deep breath and walked over to him, trying to remain cool and normal. "Hey, Kaiba...somebody was here, said to give this to you..." He shrugged nonchalantly, giving him another present.
Seto frowned, taking the gift. "Someone was here? Who were they, did you see?" He struggled to remain calm and keep his voice normal, but there was an almost desperate tone to it. This Secret Santa was driving him crazy..
Jou shook his head, mentally wincing at the tone. "Nope, I didn't see them...sorry.."
The brunette sighed as he glanced down at the gift. "Just who are you, mystery Secret Santa..." he muttered to himself, fingering the ribbon around the small gift.
"...Well, just don't look at it.....open it!"
Seto blinked at him, clutching it close protectively before opening it. He gasped as the wrapping revealed a small box that contained a ring, decorated with a small engraving of Seto's precious Blue Eyes crouched over a sapphire jewel. "Oh...!" he managed to squeak in surprise and awe.
Jou beamed mentally at his reaction, managing to look surprised at the gift without jumping around happily. "Wow...it's beautiful, Seto..." 'I hope he likes it...I had to get it specially made...' He nibbled on his lip nervously as he watched Seto out of the corner of his eye.
"It's...gorgeous..." Truly touched at such a beautiful gift, Seto barely knew what to say as he stared at the gift. This had to have been specially made..which meant that his Secret Santa had gone through a lot of trouble for him..such a marvelous thing..he wished he could thank the person.
"Who is this person, Seto, that's doing this?" Jou asked, breathing a tiny sigh of relief that his gift was so well-liked. 'Thank God Dad has such a good job and understands I love Seto...too bad he won't here for Christmas...away on business...'
Seto shook his head. "I don't even know who it is..." He took the ring and placed it on his hand, flushing slightly when he realized he put it on his ring finger automatically. 'Has this person been able to touch me so much?'
Not being able to take not telling him it was him giving him all the gifts, Jou sighed, running off to talk to a group of friends. 'Hurts too much...'
Seto blinked at his quick movement, frowning briefly. He wondered what was up with him, gasping as he was bumped and jostled in that direction. "Too many people.." he grumbled, trying to mill around the people. "Now I know why I hate parties..."
Jou, still upset, tried to avoid him as best he could, but fate, and a few misplaced elbows, stepped in.
"Ack!!" Seto yelped as he rammed right into Jou, rubbing his arm as he glared at the people behind him.
"Itai!!" Jou winced and looked up at him in surprise. 'Is fate playing a sick joke or something...?' he wondered to himself.
But fate wasn't done yet.
Seto frowned at him. "Gomen, didn't mean to..." He started to apologize and happened to glance up. "Oh boy....you've got to be kidding me..."
Jou blinked, frowning. "What...?" He too looked up, flushing. "....Oy...."
Right above their heads gleamed a sprig of mistletoe tacked cheerfully to the ceiling. And we all know what that means...
Seto went to take a step back, blushing, but again, fate intervened. Instead of moving back, he was shoved forward instead by the crowd, somehow ending up pushed into an awkward kiss with Jou. His eyes widened in surprise, stiffening.
Jou gasped, pulling back slowly as he stared at Seto. "Oh my God.." he breathed.
Seto stared back, his lips tingling pleasantly, though it didn't feel right, somehow. He hesitated, then reached out and pulled him back. "....Might as well do this right, ne?" He lowered his head, kissing him right this time.
Jou moaned into his mouth, leaning into Seto as his brain fuzzily registered that Seto was kissing him. His fingers lightly rested on his chest, shivering slightly.
Seto gasped at the contact, pulling him closer for more. He liked this..wanted this..he couldn't believe he was doing this! Jounouchi was his enemy..right?
Jou finally got his head back together and pulled back, panting. "What was t-that..?"
"I...don't know..." And it was true...he had no idea what to call this...
Jou glanced down, not knowing what to say.
"I...I should go..." Seto stammered. He glanced at the mistletoe and stumbled backwards, feeling awkward. What DO you say to a person that you just kissed that is..or was..your worst rival?
Jou's shoulders slumped. "Hai..." He sighed and turned around, walking away. 'He can't stand me...'
Seto turned the opposite direction himself, rubbing at his neck and wondering at the kiss. He touched his lips in awe as he wandered off, sighing.
The blond sighed, glancing around. "Can't stay here...." He turned and got his things and his coat, going home without a word.
******
Seto plopped down in front of the fireplace in the living room of his home, having left early himself. He stared into the flames absently, long after Mokuba had gone to bed. He glanced down at the ring, then touched the pendant he still wore. "You're a special person, whoever you are...but why do I feel as if I'd betrayed you by kissing Jou? He hates me after all..doesn't he? I must be out of my mind..." he muttered softly. He curled up in the sofa, falling asleep there, somehow feeling more lonely than ever.
******
Jou sat on his bed, staring moodily into space. "He kissed me...but did it mean anything to him ..at all..." He sighed, turning off the light, and went to sleep with the troubling thought still in his mind.
******
The next morning, Jou woke early, heading to KaibaCorp to drop off another present on his desk. "Hmmm.. two days till Christmas..." he muttered, glancing at the gift. Was he making any headway at all, or was it a lost cause? He still didn't know, it was so hard to tell with Seto. The guy was stubborn and never showed his feelings..he didn't know if he had a chance or not.
Seto yawned, not having put in a good night's sleep, having decided to come in to work early. He shuffled tiredly, opening the door as he rubbed at his eyes with a hand. "Ohayo, Mariko.." he muttered to his secretary as he went by.
Jou gasped, hearing him coming. He dashed out of there, running out as fast as possible.
Seto, even though being less than awake, still was able to see a fleeing shadow out of the corner of his eye. He gasped, giving chase to the potential thief. "Hey!!" he shouted.
Jou gasped silently. 'He can't catch me!!' He ran as fast as he could down the stairs, almost out to safety.
The brunette followed after him as much as he could. What he didn't count on was tripping over his own feet because of his own tiredness, and falling down the stairs with a sharp yelp of pain, crashing against the side of the wall with a groan.
Jou hesitated. He was so close..he sighed softly and turned back. 'I can't just leave him there...' He went back to him, pulling his hood up over his hair and face, changing his voice a bit. "Are you okay...?"
Seto glanced up at him dazedly. "Who...?" he mumbled. He tried to get up, but fell back down with a hiss, clutching his ankle.
"Take it easy...I think you sprained it...."
Seto gritted his teeth as a wave of pain washed over, his hand automatically coming up to grip at the pendant, a source that somehow brought him comfort. "Wo...wonderful..." He sagged back against the wall, panting.
Jou swallowed nervously. "Want me to call someone for help...I'm kinda late for something..."
"Be...fine...." Seto staggered to his feet, wavering. He then fell forward as a wave of vertigo threatened to knock him off balance, gasping in pain.
Jou gasped, rushing forward to steady him. "No, you aren't." 'If he sees me, oh well...I can't leave him hurt...'
"Dizzy.."
"Just take it easy...." Jou managed to manuver him over and sit him down on a stairstep, sitting next to him in concern as he watched him.
Seto groaned and massaged his head, his ring flashing clearly in the light.
Jou's heart flutterd happily as he spotted it. 'He wears it...!'
Seto shook his head, then glanced at him, his vision still a bit off to center. "What are you doing here, in the first place...you don't work here...and barely anyone's here at this hour.." he murmured.
Jou swallowed. "Was..umm...droppin' some kinda gift off for my friend.....some secret Santa thing for Seto Kaiba...you know him?" he stammered out a little.
Seto blinked. "Your friend or Seto Kaiba? 'Cause if you mean the latter..." He held up his pendant silently, the initials shining in the light.
"Ohhh, so YOU'RE Seto Kaiba...." Jou smiled. "He said you were cute..."
Seto blushed. "Who's your friend....?" he asked curiously.
"Can't tell ya....I promised him..demo he says he will meet you on...umm, Christmas Eve....at the park where the big Christmas tree is lit up..."
"Christmas Eve...one day away.." He clutched his pendant, his mind wandering over the very many wonderful gifts he'd been given by this Secret Santa. He then sighed as he remembered Jou's kiss. "...Alright...arigato..."
"Welcome...will you be okay now....?"
"Think so..." Seto leaned against the banister, hissing as he got to his feet. "Though my ankle says no.."
"Want me to help ya to your office?" Like he needed any excuse to want to be near him, he realized sheepishly.
"Onegai? It's a long way back..." Seto hated to sound weak, but he didn't think he could make it back himself.
Jou nodded. "Hai..." He wrapped an arm around his waist, helping up the stairs slowly.
Seto leaned against him, keeping most of his weight off the ankle as much as he could. "So...if you were delivering the gift...why did you run?" he asked, glancing at him.
"He told me not to get caught...so I panicked..."
"And ran like the fires of Hell were on your tail..." He mistepped and yelped, his hip against his as his body pressed closer accidentally.
Jou swallowed hard. 'Oh gods...' "Be careful..."
"Gomen..." Seto stutter-stepped, his arm looping around his waist to keep his balance.
"It's ok...just don't want ya gettin' hurt..my friend would be distraught..." He helped him up the stairs and back to his office.
Seto flopped down into his chair with a sigh, closing his eyes for a moment as he rested his ankle. "Arigato...maybe there's something you can tell me.." he murmured, opening his eyes to glance at him.
"Hmm...what's that?" Jou asked, cocking his head curiously.
"Why is your friend doing this? I mean...I don't even know them...who they are, if I know them..I've been getting gifts for twenty-three days..and I don't even know why.."
"He told me he really cares about you....well, loves you, and he wanted your Christmas to be special, so he came up with giving you gifts for twenty-five days....speaking of which, I wonder what you got this time...?"
Seto blushed at his words. 'Love...me....?' That was a surprise...he picked up the gift on his desk quietly. "Only one way to find out..." He unwrapped the gift carefully.
Jou took a silent breath, closing his eyes, then opening them. 'Gods...I just hope he doesn't find me out...' he prayed silently.
Seto unwrapped the gift and gasped, pulling out a single uniquely-colored rose with a tab on the stem, surprised by this present. "Nani?? I've never seen a rose this color...deep red, orange, even a hint of blue at the edges...." He fingered the petals carefully and read the tab. "'Firerose. Symbolizing will, strength, determination, a fiery spirit and heart.' Sugoi...!" he breathed, once again amazed at his Secret Santa.
Jou smiled to himself. "It's very pretty...well, I'd better go, I'm already late..." He turned to leave. " Ja..."
Seto, stunned at the gift that matched his personality, almost forgot to respond, staring at it still. "Ja...arigato...oh...will you tell the secretary at the desk to bring in a flower vase?"
Jou nodded, blushing. "Hai.." He left the room, taking a calming breath. "God...I'm going to pass out, my heart has been racing..." He told the secretary as promised, then bolted back home.
******
Seto pushed his thoughts back to work, although he couldn't resist glancing every so often at the rose with a smile. 'This person knows me so well...everything about me...too bad that he and Jou aren't the same..wait a minute...!' He sighed and pushed a hand though his hair, flushing. "It was just a kiss...wasn't it?"
******
Jou sighed as he reached home, his heart still racing. "I wonder if he will be disappointed that it's me...he hates me...I think..." Even he wasn't sure now of what Seto's feelings were...
******
Seto growled softly and banged his head dully against the desk after finding his mind zeroing back to the kiss. "It was just a kiss, it was just a kiss...but why is it I feel like I'm betraying Jou with this mystery person, and this mystery person with Jou..." He sank down in his seat, staring up at the ceiling. "This is so confusing....I wanna cry..." Suddenly, he couldn't wait for Christmas Eve. And that sounded strange, even to himself.
******
Christmas Eve arrived, its quiet time finding Jou waiting in front of the tree as promised, with gift twenty-four in his hands as he watched the snow fall silently in the soft evening glow.. "Here goes nothing. . . .just breathe..." he muttered to himself, swallowing nervously.
******
Seto hobbled to the area, forced to use a cane by his doctor until his ankle got better, crunching through the snow as his thoughts whirled. 'There's this guy who's wonderful and knows me like nobody else has, not even Mokuba..someone who makes me feel special, and loved, something I haven't felt since our parents died...and then there's Jou..I thought I didn't feel anything until that kiss, but it brought up a whole new bunch of questions..oh, why can't they be the same person?!' He glanced around, the christmas lights reflecting off his face and the snow glistening in his hair as it fell softly.
Jou took a breath and moved closer, seeing him hobble over. "It's now or never..." He pulled his hood over his head, hiding his face as he approached him.
Seto blinked, seeing the approaching figure out of the corner of his eye. He turned his head to blink in surprise, taking a soft breath as he watched him.
"Seto........" Jou moved in front of him, standing there for a frozen second.
The brunette swallowed nervously, his mouth having gone dry. "H'lo..." he half-croaked, his hand tightening on the cane.
Jou stared at him for a few seconds before pulling himself out of his stupor. "Hi....oh, here....." He held out the gift to him, blushing as he realized he'd been staring at him instead.
"Arigato...demo, could you open it?" Seto motioned to his cane sheepishly. " I'm holding myself up here..."
Jou nodded, mentally swatting himself for his stupidity. "Are you going to be okay?" he asked as he opened the present for him.
Seto nodded. "I'll be fine in a few days, give or take..." He leaned forward to see what he unwrapped, plus also trying to see past the hood, though without much luck.
"Good..." Jou held the gift out so he could see, biting his lip nervously.
The taller boy gasped as he saw a golden-gilt-covered picture frame of his and Mokuba's long-gone parents, tears coming to his eyes. He had no pictures of them whatsoever... "Wh....wh....where did y-you get th- that...?" he stammered softly.
"I've been looking for a year and a half....I finally found this..a friend of your parents had it and I had it framed..." Jou replied just as softly, his heart breaking and melting at the same time at the look on Seto's face.
Seto choked back a sob, a shaking hand reaching out to trace the pictures of the man and woman. "Gods....n-no one has ever given me such...." His voice cracked, starting to clog with tears. "...Such a w-wonderful gift...a- arigato..." He raised his hand to his face, wiping his eyes as tears came.
Jou raised a hand himself to Seto's face, wiping his tears away. "I'd do anything for you, Seto..." he murmured quietly.
Seto swallowed again, tear-filled blue eyes searching him. "Why? Wh-who are you...?"
Jou bit his lip nervously, his heart ramming against his chest as he pulled back his hood, glancing down. "'Cause I love you..." He glanced back up at him, eyes holding all the fear of rejection he was feeling.
Seto gasped, his eyes widening. That blond hair...the honey-brown eyes... "J-Jou...?! Oh gods..." he breathed.
**********
~End Chapter 1~
**********
Sukino: *rubs her head* . . you didn't have to hit me. .. I would have stopped. . .
Moonchild DJ: *huffs* 'kino-chan...you were gnawing on my arm when I wouldn't let go of the candy cane...
Sukino: *flushes*. . . .gomen nasai. . .demo you know me and sugar. . . Moonchild DJ: Unfortunately...which is why I stashed the rest...
Sukino: *pouts* I can't even have one. . .
Moonchild DJ: *giggles* How about a half? I'll just hide in my sugar-hyper- proof/flame-proof bomb shelter until you're finished bouncing..
Sukino: yay!! *glomps*
Moonchild DJ: I may regret it, though...like I'll probably regret the end of this chappie...
Sukino: *groans* You did it again . . .didn't you?
Moonchild DJ: *squeaks* Hai...
Sukino: Oh lordie. . . . you do have a deathwish, don't you?
Moonchild DJ: Uh...no?
Sukino: *grabs her arm* let's go then before you get mauled. . . .
Moonchild DJ: *squeaks, clinging to her* They wouldn't maul me, would they? Oh, wait...yes, they would, for not finishing my OWN stories!
Sukino: Well readers review for us ok? we need them to live . . .*hurries to RP land with Dee in tow*