by Lethe
Part Two, Chapter One: Now That You've Smiled
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Please disregard my markedly perverted sense of humor… ^__^;; Jonouchi gets worse with age! …I'm sure I'll be back to normal in the next chapter.
I think that Part Two will focus on other characters more than Chapter One did.
Oh, and I also had an interesting (though random) thought: The sun always shines. You just can't always see it.
Read on!
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A boy with messy, blond hair walked cheerfully down the sidewalk. He was usually of a good mood, but today he was particularly happy. Spring had finally arrived, and flower petals drifted to the ground in an unceasing current. It was days like this that he loved.
Especially since the school day had ended, and his hand was in Seto Kaiba's.
"You got a progress report today, didn't you?"
Jonouchi sighed. "Did you really have to bring that up?"
"Yes," said Seto jokingly. "I'm concerned for your well-being. Aren't you thrilled?"
"Oh, yeah," said Jonouchi, leaning his head against Seto's shoulder. "I'm positively ecstatic."
"Well?"
"Well what?"
"Your grades," said Seto. "Tell me."
"I'm above average! …All thanks to you, of course."
Seto smiled. "Of course. All that time we spent studying paid off, then?"
"Definitely. Especially the other 'studying'-" he added, before Seto grabbed his head and pulled him into a loose stranglehold.
"Pervert," said Kaiba.
"You know you wanted to…"
"Jonouchi, you make it sound like we wanted to do that!"
"Ah, so you admit you wanted something as well, hmm?"
"I shouldn't have helped you with your logic," muttered Seto. "And you adopt my tones so often now it's beginning to scare even me."
"You too, O-So-Brilliant-CEO. I've been counting just how many times you've said 'ya' instead of 'you' in the past week alone."
"Oh, really?" Seto raised an eyebrow. "And how many is that?"
"Twenty-five," said Jonouchi without hesitation.
"That's the date, idiot!" said Seto, laughing.
Jonouchi paused. "It's been three months…?"
"Since what?" Kaiba thought briefly. "…Christmas. I had nearly forgotten…"
They were both silent, remembering.
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"I am so sorry, you two. Really. I didn't realize… I should have asked…"
"It's all right," said Jonouchi consolingly. "You just did what you thought was right. You were trying to protect me, weren't you? Thanks."
Kaiba nodded. "No harm done."
Then Jonouchi sighed. "Although the meal Kaiba brought was totally wasted…"
Kaiba and Honda rolled their eyes. Figures.
Then Kaiba looked at Jonouchi. "So, would you like your present now?"
Honda coughed significantly and backed out of Kaiba's house. "Er, speaking of which, I'd better get home."
The two were alone.
Jonouchi nodded. "It is Christmas, and I did already give you mine."
Kaiba leaned forward, entangled his fingers in Jonouchi's hair, and kissed Jonouchi.
The two pulled apart rather reluctantly, when the need to breathe became desperate.
"That was good…" said Jonouchi in a shaky, stunned voice. "I… I'll treasure it forever…"
Kaiba laughed. "Actually, that wasn't it." He reached under the couch and pulled out a carefully wrapped box. "This is."
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Jonouchi grinned and straightened his sweater. "I'm wearing it. Did you notice?"
"Yes," said Kaiba. "Blue is a good color for you."
"You think so?" said Jonouchi.
"I know so."
"Right. So, are we 'studying' at your house or mine today?"
"Pervert!"
"Don't deny it, Seto!"
"There's nothing to deny!"
"Ooh, don't play hard-to-get with me!"
"Get away! This is a public area!"
"You know you want to-"
"Quit it! Hey! You- oh-"
Ah, youth, thought at least ten elderly couples as they walked past.
And the petals continued to fall.