Bringing Up Jou
Chapter 6
Rating: PG-13
Author: Moonchild DJ
E-Mail: moonchilddj@yahoo.com
URL: www.angelfire.com/anime4/animehime
Disclaimer: Yugioh and its characters dun belong to me, sad to say. If I did, I'd make Seto and Jou a true couple and have my own chibi-Jou! ^^ But since they don't, I don't own 'em, only this fic and its ideas, so please don't take, ne? It takes me long enough to work out a storyline..^_~
Author's Notes: Hey there, minna-chan! Moonchild DJ here with a brand- spanking-new chappie to Bringing Up Jou! Ain't ya proud of me? *beams* I'm sooooo sorry that I made you guys wait, I sincerely hope that this chapter suffices. I've been sick and busy, so pardon the lateness..as always, tell me what you think, reviews are the greatest for a modest lil' writer like myself. Enjoy!
**********
"Seto? What the..why am I in your arms like this?"
Seto paled. And going by the words--Jou nearly had his memories back, too. "Uh...well..um..." For once, Seto was speechless as he gazed into confused dark eyes. Gods, how could he explain this? Holding his most-hated rival in his arms, close and tenderly like some sort of lover. He couldn't very well say that he'd just been holding an eight-year-old version of the blond but a second ago. So what COULD he say?
"Uh..."
Jou quirked an eyebrow at THE Seto Kaiba not being able to speak, pulling out of his arms to get to his own feet. "Spit it out, I don't have all day.." he replied half-mockingly as he pushed his hair out of his eyes.
Seto stared at him, swallowing, his gaze trailing over the blond's features. It seemed like forever since he'd seen Jou normal, and now it seemed even odder with knowing how his feelings had changed. He couldn't spring it on him, he would freak. So what could he say that would let him know that things were different, without scaring him away?
"Any time, y'know.." Jou replied, crossing his arms and drumming his fingers on one arm. Seto flushed.
"Um...Jou..I, um..."
******
Pegasus smirked as he watched Seto's awkwardness, laughing so hard he toppled his chair with him in it. "Ah, gods, I haven't laughed this much in ages..this would make a wonderful sitcom...or sell the tape on the black market, hmm..." He watched the brunette boy hem and haw at his words, snickering. "Kaiba-boy tongue-tied, what a sight..and over young Katsuya, too..who would have thought?"
What he didn't know was that the relic that had caused the trouble in the first place was having..a slight malfunction. The cursebox jumped in place on its platform, cracking as its glow faded, then hiccuped back into glowing brighter.
The silver-haired man blinked in surprise as he glimpsed a slight glow emit from the blond onscreen. "Hm? What's this about? Isn't he done growing yet?"
******
"Well?" Jou asked, quirking a brow again.
Seto sighed impatiently and decided to spit it out before he lost his nerve. "Look, Jou, listen to what I have to say before you go off on one of your rants--"
"I do NOT rant!" The blond protested, bristling as he glared at Seto.
"Would you shut UP for once?!"
"Don't tell me to shut up!"
"Jounouchi! Sit down and shut up!"
"You can't tell me what to do!"
"SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP!!"
Jou squeaked in surprise, sitting down and shutting up as bellowed at.
Seto growled. 'What is it about him that manages to push all my buttons?' he wondered as he shoved a hand though his hair. He glanced back at the blond, wide eyes and all, and sighed. He moved forward and sat in front of him, clasping his hands together over his knees.
"Now..I want you to listen to me, for once. Understand?"
Jou nodded, his blond hair falling into his eyes. "Sure..don't know why, but sure."
Seto flinched. He didn't know what? Then that meant that he didn't have any memories of what happened. Nothing of him taking care of him. He sighed and shook his head sadly. Though that was upsetting to hear, he couldn't stop, he wanted to try to have something with Jou...if he didn't hate him, that is..
"Well, Jou...I wanted to tell you something..um..I, well...I kinda think I've fallen in l--"
Jou blinked suddenly, glowed slightly, then shrunk.
Seto paled as the blond shrunk and de-aged once again. Back down to the age he was, back to a sweet-looking eight-year-old cherub. Just when he'd been about to tell all. Was the world against him?
Jou blinked up at him, then smiled. "Whatcha gonna say, S'to?"
"Erk.." Seto squeaked. There was no way he was going to confess to a child. Jou beamed innocently up at him, bouncing on the log he was sitting on.
"We gonna duel 'gain, S'to?"
Seto sighed. Damn, if he didn't have the worst luck. Confess his heart and soul to his former enemy, and they turn chibi on him. He reached out and tousled the shaggy blond hair, smiling faintly when Jou giggled.
"Later, ne? It's been a long day. You need to rest."
"But S'to..." Jou pouted, managing to look like the younger version of himself and Mokuba at the same time in the expression. His heart melted at the sight as he struggled to take on the big-brother-role again and lay down the law. Why must the cute ones be the most stubborn?
"Now, Jou..it's getting late. You need to eat and sleep, and that is just what's going to happen."
"Don't wanna!" Jou pouted some more, crossing his arms over his little chest. Seto smiled at the picture and scooped him up, hauling him over his shoulder. He grinned at the indignant squeak and giggle from the towheaded blond, tiny fists thwapping on his back.
"S'toooooooo!! Lemme down!" Jou howled, giggling as the older boy started to walk. He squirmed, laughing more when the brunette started to tickle him. "S'to! Stoppit!! No fair!"
"All's fair in love and war, Jou!" Seto said before thinking, not realizing it until Jou sat back in his arms and glanced up at him seriously with those big dark eyes. He blinked back in surprise.
"S'to? Do ya love me?" he asked quietly, blinking when Seto blushed.
Seto swallowed, wondering how to answer such a loaded question like that. Of course he loved him, he realized that now, but he couldn't say that to a child, not even if he was only a chibi-fied version of the one he loved. How had things gotten so screwed up like this? Why couldn't he just have the normal Jou?
Realizing those honey-brown eyes were still looking at him, sparkling on the verge of tears, Seto flushed and hastened to speak before he screwed up more. "O-of course I love you, Jou. You're my little puppy, you know that?"
"H-honto?" Jou sniffled, looking at him skeptically. Seto's heart melted into total mush at that look. He reached out and hugged him gently.
"Hai, Jou-chan. Aishiteru."
Jou sighed, as if those words were something that could make or break him, wrapping his arms tightly around his neck, burying his face against him. "Aish'teru, S'to. Forever an' ever." he whispered, nuzzling against him.
Seto melted again, closing his eyes and petting his hair, Gods, he hoped it was forever, would he still love him when he was back to normal? Or would he go back to hating him? Would this time make any difference to Jou? It had made a lot of difference to him, it had changed his heart and feelings dor his rival..or could it be it had only took the blinders from his eyes and showed him he'd NEVER hated Jou? He was leaning towards the latter, he'd never despised Jou, he just just couldn't put a name to his feelings until now.
He loved the loud-mouthed, swaggering, cocky blond baka, loved his loyalty, his courage, his stubborness, his big heart, his gentleness. he loved that he even stood up to him, even when it was less-than- intelligent, since he could clean his clock. He never backed down, even when things didn't look so good for him.
He loved him. Seto Kaiba loved Katsuya Jounouchi.
Problem was...did Jou..the real Jou..love him back? Or was it wishful thinking that the chibi in his arms reflected the feelings of the adult form? He couldn't be sure, since Jou had been normal for only a few moments. While he had to thank the curse for bringing out the truth, it also put a damper on any mutual feelings.
Seto sighed softly in frustration, then smiled when he heard Jou's soft, even breathing against him. He'd fallen asleep, after all. He cuddled the little boy close and headed back to the campsite.
"Woof woof.." Jou mumbled in his sleep, chewing on a corner of Seto's shirt collar as he curled contentedly in his arms. Seto blushed. Definitely his little puppy, alright. He really should watch his words, kids were so impressionable.
********
"Ugh...that's so saccharine, I may gag." Pegasus muttered, rolling his eyes.
"Sir?" Croquet blinked beside him, serving him his customary wine as he watched the brunette boy and the little blond.
"Never mind. Did you find out what happened with the cursebox?"
Croquet nodded. "There's a crack in its foundation, now. I think, because it's so old, it's unstable. That's what caused the age jump. It seems to be all right, now, but it isn't exactly very reliable. He could be an old man one day and an infant the next. Shouldn't you break the curse before something happens?"
Pegasus shook his head. "No, I want to see what happens. Kaiba-boy's reactions to it all are so priceless to watch. It'd be hilarious to see his reaction to loving an old man." he smirked, chuckling to himself.
"But sir.." Croquet squeaked as Pegasus brought him close, glaring at him. "Uh.." His protest had shot right out of his head.
"You don't wish to ruin my fun, do you, Croquet? After all, good help is so hard to come by when their soul's stuck in a card." The silver-haired man growled softly in vague threat.
Croquet swallowed and shook his head. "Never mind, sir. Forget what I said, sir."
"Good man." Pegasus murmured, letting him go and smiling again as his Eye flashed between his hair. "Go check on our guests. Make sure they're comfy and won't escape for a while."
Croquet bowed and left the room, leaving Pegasus to his watching. He wouldn't dare go against Pegasus, besides being loyal, he also didn't want to be trapped in a soul card like Kaiba's little brother. He shuddered and walked on.
********
~End Chapter 6~
Chapter 6
Rating: PG-13
Author: Moonchild DJ
E-Mail: moonchilddj@yahoo.com
URL: www.angelfire.com/anime4/animehime
Disclaimer: Yugioh and its characters dun belong to me, sad to say. If I did, I'd make Seto and Jou a true couple and have my own chibi-Jou! ^^ But since they don't, I don't own 'em, only this fic and its ideas, so please don't take, ne? It takes me long enough to work out a storyline..^_~
Author's Notes: Hey there, minna-chan! Moonchild DJ here with a brand- spanking-new chappie to Bringing Up Jou! Ain't ya proud of me? *beams* I'm sooooo sorry that I made you guys wait, I sincerely hope that this chapter suffices. I've been sick and busy, so pardon the lateness..as always, tell me what you think, reviews are the greatest for a modest lil' writer like myself. Enjoy!
**********
"Seto? What the..why am I in your arms like this?"
Seto paled. And going by the words--Jou nearly had his memories back, too. "Uh...well..um..." For once, Seto was speechless as he gazed into confused dark eyes. Gods, how could he explain this? Holding his most-hated rival in his arms, close and tenderly like some sort of lover. He couldn't very well say that he'd just been holding an eight-year-old version of the blond but a second ago. So what COULD he say?
"Uh..."
Jou quirked an eyebrow at THE Seto Kaiba not being able to speak, pulling out of his arms to get to his own feet. "Spit it out, I don't have all day.." he replied half-mockingly as he pushed his hair out of his eyes.
Seto stared at him, swallowing, his gaze trailing over the blond's features. It seemed like forever since he'd seen Jou normal, and now it seemed even odder with knowing how his feelings had changed. He couldn't spring it on him, he would freak. So what could he say that would let him know that things were different, without scaring him away?
"Any time, y'know.." Jou replied, crossing his arms and drumming his fingers on one arm. Seto flushed.
"Um...Jou..I, um..."
******
Pegasus smirked as he watched Seto's awkwardness, laughing so hard he toppled his chair with him in it. "Ah, gods, I haven't laughed this much in ages..this would make a wonderful sitcom...or sell the tape on the black market, hmm..." He watched the brunette boy hem and haw at his words, snickering. "Kaiba-boy tongue-tied, what a sight..and over young Katsuya, too..who would have thought?"
What he didn't know was that the relic that had caused the trouble in the first place was having..a slight malfunction. The cursebox jumped in place on its platform, cracking as its glow faded, then hiccuped back into glowing brighter.
The silver-haired man blinked in surprise as he glimpsed a slight glow emit from the blond onscreen. "Hm? What's this about? Isn't he done growing yet?"
******
"Well?" Jou asked, quirking a brow again.
Seto sighed impatiently and decided to spit it out before he lost his nerve. "Look, Jou, listen to what I have to say before you go off on one of your rants--"
"I do NOT rant!" The blond protested, bristling as he glared at Seto.
"Would you shut UP for once?!"
"Don't tell me to shut up!"
"Jounouchi! Sit down and shut up!"
"You can't tell me what to do!"
"SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP!!"
Jou squeaked in surprise, sitting down and shutting up as bellowed at.
Seto growled. 'What is it about him that manages to push all my buttons?' he wondered as he shoved a hand though his hair. He glanced back at the blond, wide eyes and all, and sighed. He moved forward and sat in front of him, clasping his hands together over his knees.
"Now..I want you to listen to me, for once. Understand?"
Jou nodded, his blond hair falling into his eyes. "Sure..don't know why, but sure."
Seto flinched. He didn't know what? Then that meant that he didn't have any memories of what happened. Nothing of him taking care of him. He sighed and shook his head sadly. Though that was upsetting to hear, he couldn't stop, he wanted to try to have something with Jou...if he didn't hate him, that is..
"Well, Jou...I wanted to tell you something..um..I, well...I kinda think I've fallen in l--"
Jou blinked suddenly, glowed slightly, then shrunk.
Seto paled as the blond shrunk and de-aged once again. Back down to the age he was, back to a sweet-looking eight-year-old cherub. Just when he'd been about to tell all. Was the world against him?
Jou blinked up at him, then smiled. "Whatcha gonna say, S'to?"
"Erk.." Seto squeaked. There was no way he was going to confess to a child. Jou beamed innocently up at him, bouncing on the log he was sitting on.
"We gonna duel 'gain, S'to?"
Seto sighed. Damn, if he didn't have the worst luck. Confess his heart and soul to his former enemy, and they turn chibi on him. He reached out and tousled the shaggy blond hair, smiling faintly when Jou giggled.
"Later, ne? It's been a long day. You need to rest."
"But S'to..." Jou pouted, managing to look like the younger version of himself and Mokuba at the same time in the expression. His heart melted at the sight as he struggled to take on the big-brother-role again and lay down the law. Why must the cute ones be the most stubborn?
"Now, Jou..it's getting late. You need to eat and sleep, and that is just what's going to happen."
"Don't wanna!" Jou pouted some more, crossing his arms over his little chest. Seto smiled at the picture and scooped him up, hauling him over his shoulder. He grinned at the indignant squeak and giggle from the towheaded blond, tiny fists thwapping on his back.
"S'toooooooo!! Lemme down!" Jou howled, giggling as the older boy started to walk. He squirmed, laughing more when the brunette started to tickle him. "S'to! Stoppit!! No fair!"
"All's fair in love and war, Jou!" Seto said before thinking, not realizing it until Jou sat back in his arms and glanced up at him seriously with those big dark eyes. He blinked back in surprise.
"S'to? Do ya love me?" he asked quietly, blinking when Seto blushed.
Seto swallowed, wondering how to answer such a loaded question like that. Of course he loved him, he realized that now, but he couldn't say that to a child, not even if he was only a chibi-fied version of the one he loved. How had things gotten so screwed up like this? Why couldn't he just have the normal Jou?
Realizing those honey-brown eyes were still looking at him, sparkling on the verge of tears, Seto flushed and hastened to speak before he screwed up more. "O-of course I love you, Jou. You're my little puppy, you know that?"
"H-honto?" Jou sniffled, looking at him skeptically. Seto's heart melted into total mush at that look. He reached out and hugged him gently.
"Hai, Jou-chan. Aishiteru."
Jou sighed, as if those words were something that could make or break him, wrapping his arms tightly around his neck, burying his face against him. "Aish'teru, S'to. Forever an' ever." he whispered, nuzzling against him.
Seto melted again, closing his eyes and petting his hair, Gods, he hoped it was forever, would he still love him when he was back to normal? Or would he go back to hating him? Would this time make any difference to Jou? It had made a lot of difference to him, it had changed his heart and feelings dor his rival..or could it be it had only took the blinders from his eyes and showed him he'd NEVER hated Jou? He was leaning towards the latter, he'd never despised Jou, he just just couldn't put a name to his feelings until now.
He loved the loud-mouthed, swaggering, cocky blond baka, loved his loyalty, his courage, his stubborness, his big heart, his gentleness. he loved that he even stood up to him, even when it was less-than- intelligent, since he could clean his clock. He never backed down, even when things didn't look so good for him.
He loved him. Seto Kaiba loved Katsuya Jounouchi.
Problem was...did Jou..the real Jou..love him back? Or was it wishful thinking that the chibi in his arms reflected the feelings of the adult form? He couldn't be sure, since Jou had been normal for only a few moments. While he had to thank the curse for bringing out the truth, it also put a damper on any mutual feelings.
Seto sighed softly in frustration, then smiled when he heard Jou's soft, even breathing against him. He'd fallen asleep, after all. He cuddled the little boy close and headed back to the campsite.
"Woof woof.." Jou mumbled in his sleep, chewing on a corner of Seto's shirt collar as he curled contentedly in his arms. Seto blushed. Definitely his little puppy, alright. He really should watch his words, kids were so impressionable.
********
"Ugh...that's so saccharine, I may gag." Pegasus muttered, rolling his eyes.
"Sir?" Croquet blinked beside him, serving him his customary wine as he watched the brunette boy and the little blond.
"Never mind. Did you find out what happened with the cursebox?"
Croquet nodded. "There's a crack in its foundation, now. I think, because it's so old, it's unstable. That's what caused the age jump. It seems to be all right, now, but it isn't exactly very reliable. He could be an old man one day and an infant the next. Shouldn't you break the curse before something happens?"
Pegasus shook his head. "No, I want to see what happens. Kaiba-boy's reactions to it all are so priceless to watch. It'd be hilarious to see his reaction to loving an old man." he smirked, chuckling to himself.
"But sir.." Croquet squeaked as Pegasus brought him close, glaring at him. "Uh.." His protest had shot right out of his head.
"You don't wish to ruin my fun, do you, Croquet? After all, good help is so hard to come by when their soul's stuck in a card." The silver-haired man growled softly in vague threat.
Croquet swallowed and shook his head. "Never mind, sir. Forget what I said, sir."
"Good man." Pegasus murmured, letting him go and smiling again as his Eye flashed between his hair. "Go check on our guests. Make sure they're comfy and won't escape for a while."
Croquet bowed and left the room, leaving Pegasus to his watching. He wouldn't dare go against Pegasus, besides being loyal, he also didn't want to be trapped in a soul card like Kaiba's little brother. He shuddered and walked on.
********
~End Chapter 6~