YA: It's funny how still in the reviews I receive; people are still killing Bandit Keith. Okay people, if you want him dead so badly, I'll kill him in the next chapter. The thing is, I won't tell you how he dies or who kills him. *snickers* A few things to say before I start this chapter. I got a review saying that this fic sucked from the first chapter.

My answer is: Yes, I know that this story sucks. It even sucks to me but the best part is I have fun writing it. And if it sucks so badly, how come so many people like it? Unless I'm being lied to. O_o I highly doubt that. Okay, I just had to get that out.

Warning: This chapter is FLUFFY!!! I was trying to stray away from lemons so instead at the end, Seto says things in a metaphoric way. So if you read carefully and imagine well enough, then you can see what's going on. ^_~

Yami: *reads* Oh yes, I see it.

Yugi: *reads* Really? I don't see it. It looks like poetry.

Yami: You don't need to understand it, Yugi.

YA: Oh Yami, it isn't that bad. It's sweet actually. Anyway, onward!

As a protector, he was my tower alone on the sea

He has become the light of the dark side of me

Proving that such an emotion as love does exist

Actions of protecting me, his life he does risk

There is so much he can tell me, so much he can say

And within the morning's time, his light that he sheds flickers off in a day

Heart of a Magnolia

It is easily bruised

To be healed with a kiss

An interlude into forever…

"So you're gone." Whispers Jounouchi. Holding the white silk petals to his lips, he brushes it with a soft kiss before launching them into the water below him. The breeze of the ocean travels through his hair, whipping the thick blonde bangs into his chestnut, water-filled eyes. With a single blink, crystalline tears fall, reflecting the light of the morning sun into floating diamonds.

He clutches another bunch of the sweet smelling flowers into his arms, careful not to bruise the petals, but holds them firmly as he would if the one he loved was still alive. More tears of sorrow fall, tapping the magnolias, they too share his grief. Behind him, in the beach house hidden in the thick shadows of the trees, Shizuka stares at her older brother with sheer compassion. It's been two weeks since Seto's accident at the warehouse and he's made no contact with Jounouchi. He has feared the worst and counted Seto as dead.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Back to Seto's POV

The wound has finally healed and it was safe enough for me to leave. I've been at the hospital for weeks, due to Keith's dirty cheating. I'll do well to give him my respects, but not before finding my Jou first. It was a well rest, but it took so long and I can feel Jounouchi's loneliness tugging at my heart. I demanded information from his careless father to lead me to his mother's house.

With each passing minute, I could feel Jounouchi's faith in my falter. I thought of every possible way to get there. By car, it would take too long and I gave the pilot to my personal jet the month off. Stupid idea. But my helicopter was pretty reliable as always. We couldn't even have to land, I can just jump out and allow Jounouchi to run into my arms once more (a/n: I prefer Seto to ride in a chopper anyway. ^_^).

"Pick up, Mokuba." I muttered while on the phone.

"Kaiba residence, Mokuba speaking."

"Great. Hey, little brother, how are you doing?"

"I'm alright! Are you coming home, Seto? I told to chef to make your favorite dinner because you're finally out of the hospital!" Guilt clouds over me and I sigh mentally.

"I'm sorry, Mokuba. I won't be able to make it home tonigh—"

"Jounouchi, huh?"

"Mokuba…"

"I understand. Just come home safely, please." A smile curves on my lips.

"You're not mad are you?" There was a long pause, as he takes in a deep breath.

"I'm not mad." He pauses again. "I'mjustjealousthatyouspendmoretimewithhimmorethanme! Bye!" After sorting out the words, I laugh out loud.

"I'll make a note to spend some time with my little brother." The pilot turns to me and gives me a signal. I nod as I look out of one of the windows. The surroundings were beautiful! Just on the coast of this country is where his mother stays. So peaceful and it reminds me of the country. Ahead and below, I can see a single house, dispersed and alone with others scattered about. Trees were everywhere, holding beautiful white flowers in their branches.

My eyes widen when I see a blonde figure standing by the cliff, with flowers at his feet. It was Jounouchi! Just like in my reoccurring dreams. My heart leaped from the cage it was sitting in.

"Go down! Lower now!" I ordered. I ordered him before not to make a complete landing. Perhaps I could meet Jounouchi in style. We were low enough for me to jump out and ascend towards the boy. He glanced up at the hovering chopper, confused, until he saw me jump out. Our eyes met like in the beginning. His fiery bronze eyes with the stormy look of my azure. The emotions between us twisted, so colorful like that of a kaleidoscope. He stepped forward, and then pulled back like I wasn't real. Only an illusion of his mind. I stretch out my hands in an inviting manner.

"Seto! It's really you! You're alive!" he cries running to me. In those two weeks of waiting in the hospital, my dream has finally come…to feel him in my arms again. He looks up at me with quivering lips, lips that were full and ready for kissing. But I take control of my emotions.

"I'm very much alive, Jou. I'm not easy to kill." He buries his head into my chest taking in a deep breath, perhaps the scent to ensure my reality. His hands digging into my back, sending more chills up my neck. "Such little faith you have." I tease.

"One of the things I lost while trapped in that room, love." I felt laughter rise in my chest but I stop. The last word he said…was it love? To answer my question he looks at me once again, his eyes no longer tearful. Instead they were sparkling with joy like the finest of wine. "Seto, I'm sorry for what I said that other night. I didn't know how to feel. I didn't know what that meant." He clutches me tighter. "But now I do! I understand what you meant and I'll take your offer!"

I blink reassuring letting him continue.

"I want to stay with you! Always! Always stay with me and protect me from the harshness of this world!" Before I could get a word in to reaches up and pulls my head down close to his. Our lips barely touching, I can actually feel his breath on mine. Slowly, he comes closer until finally I fall into ease when he presses his lips against mine. Carefully and then it becomes more fierce with passion.

All the pain he has kept inside carried on into the crushing power of his kiss. So violent, bold and malevolent. I was at a loss of breath, trying hard to hold inside the screams that were building up in my throat only to have bubbles of gasps trapped instead. His fingers dug into my back in pure craving. If he wanted, he could have pulled my very soul out of my body and into his own.

Finally we parted, both gasping for nearby air, only to catch more of the heat that was created around us.

"I want you to show me tonight. Show me how it feels to be in love, to be loved." I nod and he leads me into his beach house. "I'll pick you up tonight." What he meant by that I was unsure about. His family welcomes me gracefully. Fed and offered me a room although I was a total stranger. His sister told me, any friend of her brother was a friend of the family. A comforting thought, I wondered, but how would they feel if I was in love with Jounouchi.

Night fell fast and the air was much cooler. The atmosphere carried a lush feeling to it with all the trees and their sweet smelling flowers. I couldn't help but think if this is truly where Jou belongs. He doesn't want to go back to the city but I never want to part with him ever again. A thought struck my mind. I could build a house out here and Mokuba and I could live here. Traveling back and forth from the city wouldn't be a burden, not for me. I'll do anything to be with Jounouchi. A knock was sounded on the window, startling me suddenly. I peer out of the beaded curtain, seeing Jounouchi waiting outside for me.

When exiting the house quietly, he's still in the same place with a blanket in his hand. I peer at him questioningly.

"It's going to be a little colder where I'm taking you." He says coolly. In the moonlight, I could see his cheeks gather heat into a nice, innocent blush. He takes my hand and leads me further into the trees until we come upon a small path with stones as steps. The travel wasn't long; I spent every second taking in the sight of the shadows casting their darkness on the boy. We come to a clearing, high above the houses we escaped from. More Magnolia trees hung over us with a small water spring to our right. Its trickle sounds were pleasing to the ears, as the water gathered into a small pool and dripped off the cliff into a stream below. It was a hiding place, a safe haven just for the two of us.

"Does anybody know about this place?" I asked, hoping there wouldn't be any interruptions from surprised country folks.

"Only Shizuka and I." He gave me a look as if he just read my mind. "She won't be coming up here if that's what you're wondering." I chuckle and take him in my arms squeezing him intimately. "So…show me." He whispers.

"I…I…I don't know how to start. Ahem." I clear my thoughts as I stammer over my words. "I mean, I'm not sure how to handle you after…um…" The eyes that gazed at me lovingly suddenly turned dark and cold.

"Handle me anyway you want. I won't object." My eyes narrowed asking him if he was sure and he nods. "I'm sure."

"There will be no turning back. I can be an animal sometimes." Ignoring my last warning he pulls me down upon him and kisses me again. I am lost into the fire of passion as colors pass through my head while falling into a state of bliss.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

YA: Here we go! See if you can understand what Seto is saying. ^_~

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

At this moment I was showing him true love. Something that's glimmering, bedazzling and marvelous. I have asked him when was the last time he has let his heart be his guide. Breaths have become intertwined as I opened his eyes, wandering him over and over. Wonders he carried and much more as we continued the stimulating thrill ride.

"So this is love." He tells me. "A new, fantastic emotion." He stops as short gasps rise in his throat, caught up in the sensation. "But please, don't stop there, no, I want to know more. Carry on with this endless dreaming."

Soft to the touch, a variety of music is heard taking us through as we move along blissfully under a wide, diamond filled sky. Just a touch of love, a little bit. Keep going on, just a little bit. Making us both high and fills our mind. No sense of time, steady in a rhythmic pace. Makes us shine, under the mother-like warmth of the moonlight.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

It wasn't morning when I woke up, but the dawn was beginning to fill the warm night air. Just over the ocean you could sense the sun just about to rise in another hour. I stir, begging my exhausted body to go back to sleep with Jounouchi.

Looking at him, he looks content but there is no smile on his face. He looks tired, giving his all and releasing the pain and anger away. Banishing it along with loneliness into the dark depths of evil hearts where they belong.

I wipe a couple strands of damp blonde hair away from his eyes. He doesn't move which relaxes me. This was one of the nights where he would be able to sleep restfully under my care. I couldn't provide for it before due to his fear but now I helped to come through the images of nastiness.

What was Bandit Keith hovering above him and causing pain, was now replaced with images of me, caressing his with tenderness. I lay back, feeling the softness of the damp blanket under us. Damp from the fresh dew of the new morning (a/n: What did you think it was damp from? ^^;; LMAO). As I drift to sleep he turns to face me, eyes still close as darkness entrances me. Though hearing the birds above us waking, I can still hear the lull breathing of his, putting me to sleep like it's done before.

TBC

YA: *pukes* SAPPY!

Yami: Yep, that's pretty sticky.

YA: Sappy, sappy, sticky and sweet. Forget fluff, that's some sticky stuff right there.

Yugi: *reads* I still don't get it.

YA and Yami: *rolls eyes*

Bandit Keith: I STILL LIVE!!!

YA: Not for long. Wait until the next chapter! Whoo hoo! More stickiness! Oh and about the magnolias. They have no special meaning, they just grow in my neighborhood and they're so pretty and smell tons good. But because it's winter, they're gone! I miss them.