Here's chapter four! Now, against the original run of the story, this is gonna be quite fluffy, but I'll explain myself at the end, okay?

To silver-fox20: Yeah, poor Ryou... but it's gonna get worse later... Anyways, here's the update ^_^
To ObiWanGirl: "Angst is wonderful"? Yeah, but only when people do a good job of it! Anyways, there's a couple more tear-jerkers coming yet, so stay tuned!
To 'Yuki KIKI': More kind words ^_^ *blush* Feh, you're being too nice! Anyways, you'll get a nice dose of Ryou\Malik this chappie, so I hope you enjoy!
To k3n5h1nXt5uZuk1: I know, I didn't wanna do that to Ryou... but it's essential for the fic, unfortunately...
To 'Karen': I know I already emailed you, but you reviewed and so deserve recognition! ^_^ So thanks again for reviewing, and I'm glad someone picked out the puppy idea!

*~*~*~*~*~*

Dimly aware of activity in the room, Jou sleepily opened his eyes. When he saw the bed next to him was empty, he slowly lifted his head off the pillow to look round.

"Sorry if I woke you, puppy," a half-dressed Seto called as he dashed past.

Jou rolled over and looked at the alarm clock, almost choking in surprise when he saw the time. "What the?! Six forty-five? Does that time even exist in the morning?"

"'Fraid so," Seto called from the bathroom, his mouth full of toothpaste.

Jou groaned in disbelief and let his head fall back on the pillow. A couple of minutes later, Seto returned.

"KaibaCorp phoned, there's an emergency meeting and I'm needed there ASAP," he explained. "On top of that, I've gotta arrange Mokuba's transport to school."

Jou rolled over again, burying his face in the pillows. "Uh huh."

Seto smiled. "Sure you don't fancy coming along?" All he caught from Jou's muffled response was 'no' and 'lay in'. Walking over to his sleepy puppy, Seto sat on the edge of the bed. "I'll see you later then," he whispered, gliding his fingers across the back of Jou's neck, silently laughing as Jou's body slowly went rigid through pleasure and trying not to twitch. Kissing Jou on the cheek, he stood up and left the room.

At about twelve o' clock, Jou eventually stumbled down the stairs. Blinking, he made his way to the kitchen to find out if breakfast was still available or whether he had to move straight on to lunch. The large fry-up brought out to him answered his succinctly.

*~*~*~*~*~*

An hour had passed since breakfast, and Jou couldn't deny it - a mansion's no fun on your own. He was bored.

"I know!" he cried out loud. "I'll phone the guys, they'll come over!"

He ran to the phone and dialled Yugi's number. The phone was picked up after a couple of rings.

"Moshi moshi, Kame Game Shop," Yugi's voice stated.
"Yo Yug', it's me. I was just wondering if you and Yami fancied coming round to Seto's? Free house, if you get me."
"Well, Yami's out, but Ryou's here. Shall I bring him along?"
"Sure, that saves me a phone call! How about Bakura and Malik? Are they there?"
"No, they're with Yami. Getting their leathers dry-cleaned, I think…"
Jou sighed. "They're as bad as women sometimes… okay, I'll see you two in… ten minutes?"
"Sure! See ya soon!"

*~*~*~*~*~*

The three boys sat in Seto's living room, eating Chinese and chatting. The TV was on, but it was only providing background noise.

"Hey Jou," Yugi began, a mouthful of Satay chicken trapped between his chopsticks. "I was just wondering… how did you and Seto end up together? I mean, you two used to hate eachother!"

Jou finished chewing his Chow Mein and swallowed before replying. "Well, you remember when Mokuba was in hospital, and Seto took it really badly?" The other two nodded. "Well, Serenity decided that we should go and pay a visit to cheer him up - she had to practically drag me along, mind. And.. well, I dunno, I guess I felt sorry for the guy, so I kept going back. Gradually we grew to like eachother as friends, and I developed a crush on him. Even now I don't know what attracted me - I guess was just him."

Ryou nodded understandingly, though Yugi looked like he didn't quite follow.

"Then one day, well after Mokuba was out of the hospital, he saved my life and told me he loved me. I realised then that I loved him too, and… well, the rest is history." The two guessed Jou didn't want to talk about how Seto saved, and didn't press for detail.

Ryou smiled, memories flooding back to him. "Serenity was involved with me and Malik too. I'd always talk to her about him, all the time. I don't know how long I liked Malik for, but she'd heard all of it. So you can imagine how I felt when she told me Malik had a crush on me!" Ryou bowed his head slightly. "Not that I had the guts to ask him out, of course. And he wouldn't believe her when she said that I'd liked him for ages. After all he'd been through with his yami, can you blame him for being wary?"

Yugi and Jou both considered before replying. Jou voiced both their thoughts, "Nah, guess not."

"Well, he was convinced that someone - and I quote - 'as sweet and innocent as Ryou' couldn't possibly be interested in someone like him. So, Serenity decided to play matchmaker…"

*~*~*Flashback*~*~*

Ryou looked up from where he sat as Malik practically fell through the doorway, closely followed by Serenity, whose face showed she was intent on *something*. She closed the door behind her and locked it, putting the key in her sock for safekeeping. The massage was clear: no-one was leaving until she said so. She grabbed Malik by the arm and called Ryou over. "Stand there," she said, indicating a spot on the floor about two feet in front of Malik.

Doing as he was told, Ryou looked expectantly at Serenity, not sure what was going on.

"Okay Ryou, answer honestly. Do you like Malik?" she asked. Ryou felt a massive blush spread across his cheeks and he looked away, staring at the floor somewhere under his right arm.

"Malik, do you have a crush on Ryou?" Malik also looked away, folding his arms and muttering something along the lines of 'Geez, you'd think she was fucking marrying us or something.'

Serenity chose to ignore that. "So neither of you denies it. Now look at eachother."

The two slowly raised their heads, the pink tinge still evident on Ryou's cheeks. When they made eye contact, Ryou froze for half a second, his eyes wide, before he smiled shyly and quickly looked away again, staring at his feet. Malik couldn't help but notice how amazingly sweet Ryou looked, or that it was because of the questions that Ryou was blushing, and a pinkish tinge soon lightened his tanned face too.

Sighing in exasperation, Serenity gave Ryou a helpful shove into Malik, who caught him almost instinctively. Ryou hadn't been able to help himself, stood there with Malik's arms around him, and he slowly slid his arms round Malik, hugging him tight. Malik gently eased Ryou's head down till it was resting on Malik's shoulder, and he rested his own head against Ryou's silky-soft white tresses, sighing contentedly.

"Oh for pity's sake!" Serenity cried, even though the delight was already evident on her face. "Just kiss him! Do it for me!"

With that, Ryou lifted his head and gazed into Malik's eyes, a small smile playing about his lips. Closing his eyes, he slowly leaned forward till their lips met.

*~*~*End Flashback*~*~*

Yugi squeaked in delight at Ryou's story, hugging his knees up to his chest. "That is so kawaii!" he cried, eyes sparkling. Releasing his knees, he hugged himself, swinging his feet under his chair happily. "I remember how me and Yami got together…"

*~*~*Flashback 2*~*~*

Valentine's Day. How it always hurt Yugi. Every year, he always secretly hoped for at least one card, and every year he got nothing. This year, he'd hoped for a card from a particular person, a special someone… but it had been the same as always. Nothing. Utter rejection again. And now, all the years caught up on him, Yugi lay on his bed, sobbing his little heart out.

He suddenly felt a weight next to him on the bed where someone had sat down. "Aibou?"

"Hi Yami," Yugi whispered through his tears. Yami was the one person he didn't need to see right now.

"What's wrong?"

Yugi managed to stifle his sobs down to sniffles, but he kept his face buried in the pillow. "Valentine's Day."

Yami gently placed a hand on Yugi's shoulder. "Oh Yugi, lots of people don't get anything. It's not the end of the world."

Yugi sniffled. "But it was supposed to be different this year! It was supposed to be special… I really had my hopes up, you know? I was hoping I'd get at least a card from that one special person I love with all my heart…" Yugi sniffled again. "But you didn't even -"

Yugi suddenly stopped, his heart pounding as he realised his slip of the tongue. Had Yami noticed?

The silence dragged on till it was almost unbearable. Yugi turned over and peeked out of one eye, and saw the stunned look on Yami's face.

"You love… me?"

Yugi sat up, his head bowed and his eyes closed. "Hai, Yami, aishiteru… please don't hate me…"

"How could I hate you, Yugi?" Watashimomata aishiteru…" [1]

Yugi's head shot up, his eyes sparkling. "Really yami?" he asked, his voice a mixture of hope and excitement.

"Hai, aibou. I -" Yami was cut off as Yugi dived on him, wrapping his arms round Yami and smothering him with kisses. Yugi already knew why Yami hadn't told him before - it was the same reasons Yugi hadn't told him. And Yugi didn't want to waste time hearing what he already knew.

Yami quickly regained his composure, and soon caught Yugi's lips with his own. Both kissing eachother gently, Yami slowly pulled Yugi down, till they were both laid on the bed. That night was the first of many spent in eachothers' arms.

*~*~* End flashback*~*~*

Ryou sighed. "On Valentine's Day… how romantic."

Jou nodded. "I guess Yami's a bit of a sap after all," he added with a cheeky grin.

Just then, the living room door opened. "Ah, there's my puppy," a rather weary-looking Seto smiled. As he noticed the slightly distant looks on everyone's face, his smile turned into a look of confusion. "Are you all on drugs or something?"

Jou stood up and kissed his partner, wrapping his arms round Seto's waist as he did so. "No, we were just reminiscing a bit."

"…I see…"

*~*~*~*~*~*

[1] Watashimomata aishiteru = I also love you; I love you too.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Okay, I know that right now that chapter just seemed like a load of fluffy drivel, but it will become important later in the story! You also got to find out a bit more about each pairing too ^_^
Anyways, for those of you who love angst and sadness and drama, there's gonna be plenty of that soon - starting next chapter.
In the mean time, I forgot to mention last week (too busy with Ryou) but I now have an active author alert status! That means if you put me on your 'author alert' list, you'll get an email everytime ANYTHING I do is updated, or a new story is posted. Just saves you having to check in on me daily or whatever, that's all ^_^
Anyhoo, please review! Odaijini [take care], ja mata ne!