Spicy Marmalade
Part One







Jounouchi stared out at the city, the midday sun reflecting off the buildings below to create white gleaming daggers against the metallic structures. He sighed, dispelling the cigarette smoke along with his pent up breath. Slowly he took another drag, savoring the nicotine rush. Sure, he knew that it was a dirty habit--a carryover from his days in the gang--but knowing something was bad for you and quitting it were two different things. The tall blonde's eyes were dulled with thought, musings flickering across the surface like bubbles in a glass of champagne.

His train of thought was derailed by a sudden obstacle.

"You know smoking isn't allowed on campus." The voice always carried the faintest traces of smug amusement, as though the other boy was a critic merely watching a sub par show from the audience.

"So report me." It was a growl. Jounouchi did not appreciate the interruption of his meditation. Least of all by Kaiba.

Everything about Kaiba seemed tailor made to get under his skin and burrow there like some sort of bloodsucking parasite. From his half lidded gaze and sanctimonious smirk to his slight height advantage, everything rubbed Jounouchi the wrong way.

Still, he couldn't help asking, "What are you doing here?"

"I'm sorry," Even his words were smirking. "I wasn't aware you had marked the top of this building as your territory."

Like a dog.

The subtext stood out like a neon sign in a dark alleyway. It took all of Jounouchi's restraint not to retaliate with something a bit more substantial than words--such as a punch to the face. Instead he concentrated on ignoring the other boy, in hopes that Kaiba would get bored and exit the same way he came.

No such luck.

"What's wrong, get sick of losing at Magic & Wizards?"

Jounouchi's hands tightened into a painful grip on the chain link fence surrounding the edge of the roof. Great, just his luck that Kaiba was in a conversational mood. Kaiba noted the movement and replied with a slight laugh that let Jounouchi know that he was having fun baiting the blonde. Jounouchi bit his lip harshly in an attempt to stop himself from replying. This was just one out of many games that he couldn't beat Kaiba at, and probably shouldn't try.

Jounouchi blinked. When had Kaiba managed to get so close? Furthermore, why was Kaiba so close? It made no sense, usually the other boy kept his distance from people, choosing to stay away from everyone that wasn't his little brother. Jounouchi moved away purposefully. Just because Kaiba felt like getting all buddy- buddy all of a sudden didn't mean he was in the mood to oblige the often snarky young millionaire. Hell, he should go find someone more willing to talk--like Yuugi or...

Abruptly, his thoughts went trailing back to the real reason he was up on the roof all by his lonesome.

***

Kaiba smirked once again, the expression fitting his dark features like it had been molded expressly for his face. The make inu really had no idea, did he? This was going perfectly, filling him with that same quiet elation he felt when he had a good hand of cards. If everything went according to plan he could show this pathetic excuse for a duelist and Yuugi their proper place. After all, one had to take whatever advantages they could in these sorts of games.

And Kaiba could think of nothing more surprising to the younger master duelist than to end up seducing his best friend. He had noted time and time again the firm base that Jououchi had provided for his more diminutive friend. When everything in the world was slipping through the cracks, Jounouchi was always there to pull him to safety. Shake Jounouchi, and Kaiba had a feeling Yuugi's foundation would come tumbling down as well.

The taller boy bit back a laugh as he noticed Jounouchi's obvious movements.

It was probably best to get this over with as soon as possible, seeing as how his current companion was unlikely to start the game of his own volition. Kaiba moved quickly, not even giving the other boy the chance to blink. He reached around to Jounouchi's shoulders and drew him close, right before covering the stunned boy's lips with his own.

There was no particular taste to the other boy, though there was a slight sense of tobacco smoke and the barest traces of salt that had collected in the crannies of his lips. Certainly not like the romance novels would claim, where kisses always seemed to taste of strawberries and cream, or any one of a thousand equally unlikely foods.

Nor was it a kiss to make someone swoon and melt like butter on a stovetop into the other's embrace. It was the echo of a gunshot signaling the beginning of a race, the sound of a buzzer at the start of a contest, completely and utterly business-like.

It was only when Kaiba pulled away did he get an unexpected reaction.

***

Jounouchi reached back and landed a decisive right hook to the taller boy's darkly handsome features. The force of the punch was enough to send the dark-haired boy reeling, hanging on to the fence for support.

If nothing else, Jounouchi decided, the stunned look on Kaiba's face was worth it. He had finally managed to surprise the master strategist.

This was not his first time being kissed by a boy, but he was vaguely surprised to find that this kiss disgusted him more than the previous ones. At least those had made sense in a sort of warped way, this had come barreling into his life without being invited in the slightest. And Jounouchi would be damned if he was going to be the butt of another one of Kaiba's snide jests.

"I'd like to think that most would be flattered by my attentions." Kaiba managed as Jounouchi turned to leave. Sure, it made him sound a bit egotistical, but this was only a setup for what was coming next.

"Yeah, so why don't you find one of those people to slobber all over instead of me, you goddamn pervert?"

Kaiba had to give the honey-haired boy credit, he wasn't expecting anything remotely like a witty parting shot from him. It lacked any sort of finesse according to the rules of verbal repartee, but it appeared Jounouchi had learned from his mistakes.

"What's wrong?" Kaiba murmured in a voice just low enough for Jounouchi to hear. "Would you rather it had been Yuugi instead?"

The blonde stopped like a deer facing down the headlights of a truck.

He knows...


to be continued