The next morning Seto showed up at the shop, asking for Yugi. "I know we have to go to school, but this can't wait." He said worriedly.
"You got a package?" Yami asked, coming out of the puzzle in shade form.
"You got one too?" Seto asked. He snorted as the three of them began to walk to school. "It figures. She's doing this perfectly. She's stacking the competition. How much do you want to bet that it comes down to either you versus either me or Marik or somebody else with a Millennium Item?"
"No bets. But we're going anyway. Joey's going, so are Ryuuji, Tristan and Tea. And Joey's little sister Serenity was invited too." Yugi said. He HATED having to look up at Seto. He looked so scary when he wasn't transformed. It was probably the issue of height.
"All the old crowd." Seto grunted. "This won't be too bad I suppose." He sighed.
They walked in silence until they reached school. The last day of classes was what Joey called a "run around day." There were no lessons because finals were over. But they still had two days of school left. So that was a day for what Tristan had wisely called, SDD; Sex, Drugs, and Drama. The Janitor's closet is empty. Yugi said, tempting Yami in what he hoped was a suggestive tone.
And if we get caught?
There's the screening room in the library. Yugi went on. It's almost always empty. And I'll bet the closet off the computer lab is free.
You… But Yami was laughing mentally.
"Oh Yu-gi!" Rex waved a hand in front of his face, a hand bedecked with a dueling gauntlet.
"Huh?" Yugi jumped.
"Were you invited?"
"To what?" Yugi asked. "I'm sorry, I wasn't listening."
"To the second Duelist's Kingdom of course!" Rex rolled his eyes. "Weevil and I both have our gauntlets! And I heard that Bone got one too and that Keith's on his way over to the nearest hotel to wait until the boat comes to take us over!"
Yugi blinked. "Yeah, I got one. Who'd have thought that Pegasus had any relatives?"
"He does. He's got Natari, and an adopted daughter Shiara. I heard that Shiara is one of the Eliminators this year. And she gets to make up her own cards!" Rex grinned wickedly. "She could make up something really nasty and deck you with it. Pardon the pun."
Yami laughed inwardly. Yeah, pun pardoned.
Yugi rolled his eyes. "Well, I'm not likely to miss this."
"Do me a favor." Rex whispered. "If you see her before Duelists Kingdom, peg Mai with a water balloon for me. I heard she HATES water."
Yugi laughed. "Rex that's not nice!"
"No, but it's funny!" Rex grinned. "After all, you DID laugh." He got up from the chair he'd been straddling. "I heard that Mr. Celedon is going to be there too."
"You mean the elderly history teacher?" Yugi demanded. "I didn't know that he played Duel Monsters!"
"He does, and he's going to be an Eliminator this year. He's got special privileges I heard." Rex said, before turning to go. "Good luck!"
Seto rolled his eyes. He sat between Joey and Yugi that year. It was odd, Yugi thought. It was almost as if he didn't mind it. Yami-kun, can you read other people's thoughts the way you can mine?
You're curious about Seto? Yami asked.
Sort of.
I can't read minds, but I CAN read emotions. Yami replied.
Can you read Seto's?
Yes… There was a pause. Now that's interesting.
What? What is? Yugi asked eagerly.
He's got a crush on Joey! Yami giggled in glee. Oh I can't wait to tease him with this one! This will be so funny!
Yami-kun!! Yugi was almost sorry he'd asked. That's mean!
But it's funny all the same. Yami laughed wickedly. He took control of Yugi and scribbled a note. Then he wrote on the front. To Seto, from Yami. He handed Seto the note and almost doubled over with laughter.
What did you write? Yugi demanded.
Roses are red, violets are blue, Joey is single and so are you. BTW the Janitor's closet is unoccupied. Go to it Romeo. Yami had returned to the puzzle and Yugi was slowly turning purple in embarrassment.
Seto read the note and practically choked. His face turned red, then blue, then white before turning purple with rage. He tore the note in half, crumpled it in a ball, and threw it on the floor.
That was where Joey picked it up. He put the two halves of the note together and read it. Then he broke down in laughter. Seto was slowly turning redder, and redder. Joey's eyebrows shot up into his hair. Seto stood, snatched the bathroom pass and stormed out of the room.
Joey was still laughing when they were excused for lunch. "Yug, that was classic! How'd Yami know that Seto was gay?"
"I have NO idea." Yugi said, flushing in embarrassment.
Joey really DID pass the janitor's closet that day. That was when he heard the muted sound of somebody sobbing. Joey opened the door a crack and saw Seto, oblivious, curled up on the floor, crying. Seto, crying? "It's not fair." He muttered.
"What isn't?" Joey asked.
Seto jumped about a mile. "J… Joey?" He asked.
"Yeah, it's me." Joey flicked on the dim light and closed the door behind them. The closet was more like a room in itself, with hooks and buckets and such for everything. There were even a few shelves. It had been built in the alcove underneath the stairs.
"I…" Seto seemed to freeze up.
"It's okay. I don't see anything wrong with it… with being Gay." Joey said softly. "I've… I've begun to wonder myself lately." He sat down on an upturned crate, his head in his hands. "It's just… weird you know?" Joey asked, smiling wanly at Seto. "It's scary…" He shivered.
Seto stood, walking over to him. He pulled Joey gently to his feet, looking silently into his eyes. Blue met amber, in a mild gaze, an assessment really. It was, however, Joey who made the first move. He took a step forward, wrapping his arms around Seto's waist. Then, looking into his eyes all the time, Joey reached up and pulled Seto into a kiss.
Seto jumped about a mile. Then he leaned into the kiss, returning it with slow tenderness, pulling Joey closer to him. Joey submitted to the kiss, pulling back only for air before Seto brought them gently to the ground. Seto ran a hand up Joey's thigh and Joey moaned softly in pleasure. Seto grunted, grinding their hips together.
The make out session came to an abrupt halt when they heard, against the door. bam bam and a cry of, "Marik! Jeez! Can't you wait until we're in the closet first?"
Joey froze and turned deep, deep read. The door cracked open, and, panting heavily, Bakura and Marik fell backwards into the closet. Bakura struggled to rise, and Marik hauled him up into a long, passionate kiss before turning him around and shoving him gently into the closet.
That was when they noticed that the closet was occupied. "Whoops!" Marik grinned foolishly. Bakura turned as red as a beet.
So did Seto, having been caught in a rather… questionable position with Joey. "Right, we'll find another place to make out." Joey said, clearing his throat and dragging Seto away.
Marik grabbed them both by the back of the jacket first. "Nope, stick around! I wanna ask you two something."
Oh, boy. Joey thought. Here it comes!
"Were you guys invited to Duelist's Kingdom too? I've never gone." Marik held up the hand that he'd put his new dueling gauntlet on.
"Yeah, the whole gang was invited." Joey said with a grin. "I'll kick your butt this time Marik!" Joey grinned foolishly.
In his dreams. Yami Bakura snorted in disgust. He won't be second this time I PROMISE you.
Bakura turned red. "My Yami says in your dreams, and that he'll make SURE that you're not second this time."
Joey grinned wickedly. "We'll see." Seto growled, and stalked off.
"Now where were we?" Joey heard Marik ask as the closet door swung shut.
For once in his life Seto threw back his head and laughed.