Warnings: Swearing, even more OOC, mentions of M/M relations, rating hiked
up just a notch for that very reason.
Disclaimer: Other than this and any other fanfics that I have written and are forthcoming, I have no legal claim, ownership or liabilities to anything affiliated to Yu-Gi-Oh or its likeness thereof. (Note: Now I think that sounds okay, but I bet it's still crap nonetheless...but this will from now on be my default disclaimer, I'll just repeat it on everything else I write from here on out. If you think it could use some revision, I'm always open to suggestions...I just find disclaimers rather tiring at times!)
A/N: Umm, not much to say here, except that I hiked up the rating because things are going to start gearing up really soon for Mokuba/Jou. Oh, I wanna give shout-outs: Digipuppy (who provided me with really great pics!), Dai-onna (the girl got skills like you wouldn't believe!) Ryou- chan, Mr. Cat, Ians-Koibito, Ninetails, Saendie(*faints*! What an honor!) Tammy, Agumon the Avenger, Sinsisters, pale lavender eyes, LadyoftheRingsCP2R, so many more wonderful people, you guys are ALL absolutely, positively (takes deep breath) AWWWEEESOOMMME! I'm dead serious, I appreciate each and every one who reads my fics, I know that you didn't really have to read them, let alone LIKE them, and your words of support really, really encourage me. I thank you all from the bottom of Seto's wallets (now, that's deep!) and even if you hate my stuff from here on out, I'll still have love for ya. I aim to please, so all comments are once again welcome, and please enjoy!
Still watching my feet, I hear him shift himself off of the stool, and come around the counter to stand right next to me. I then feel a warm, long- fingered hand placed onto the back of my neck, rubbing up and down gently from base to nape. My breath hitches as I feel a slow burn build on my cheeks. Jounouchi says softly, "Hey, are you okay, you look like you have a lot weighing on you. Whatever I can do to help, Mokuba, just say it, and I'll do it." He reaches up a little further to stroke my hair. Whoa, I - I didn't see THAT coming! I never thought that he would just touch me so.intimately like that, just out of the blue. And this is not just a regular clap on the shoulder, or a friendly jab on the arm, he's actually *caressing* me! I fight back the beginnings of a full-body shudder, I can't afford a moment of weakness, not even now!
But.I almost forget what I was going to say, I'm so busy concentrating on that hand in my hair, and how soothingly he massages my scalp. I'm very self-conscious about people touching my hair, I only allow a select few to even go near it. There's something about Jounouchi's hands....I've heard that hair is nothing more than dead cells, having no other purpose than vanity and warmth. But I swear that when he touches my hair, it comes alive as if each strand had nerve endings sending small, tingling shocks down my back! I lower my eyelids a little just to focus more on how gently, almost lovingly, he rakes his hands through my long black locks.
Suddenly, I remind myself of my purpose, and unwillingly break out my daze to look up at his face. He's still got that warm smile, but it seems even softer now, as if he already understood what was on my mind. His eyes, the color of freshly-turned earth, have a glimmer of something that makes my stomach leap a little. I feel that burn spread more throughout my face, could I be THAT obvious? I steel myself to finally speak, surprising myself by changing what I was originally going to say.
" Jounouchi, I... I have to ask you something."
He moves his hand down from my hair to smooth over my cheek, his other hand placed lightly on my shoulder. " Go on, Mokuba, it's okay, it's just me."
I drop my head again, and let out a cross between a sigh and a groan, he's not making it easy! "Uhh, Jou,I just wanted to know..man, I don't know how to say this.. okay, what do you really think of me?"
He places both hands onto my face now, lifting my head even more so that we could share eye contact. " I don't follow, Mokuba. I thought you knew how much I liked you."
I think, 'He liked me?! Wait a minute, that's not what he mean,now I'm taking things out of context. Maybe he does still see me as some strange kid!'
"W-well, yeah, I knew we've always been cool, you know, but what I meant was.do you still see me as a kid, or...as I am now? I mean, do you really see how different I've become?" I feel so foolish and corny right now, I'm going to make him freak...I try to look away, his eyes are boring into mine so intently.
"Mokuba." Jounouchi firms his gentle hold on my face slightly, only enough to keep me from turning away from his gaze. "Mokuba, please, look at me. I think I understand what you're getting at now. If you're asking me if I've noticed how much you have grown.the answer is a definite yes. When you were a kid, after I got to know you, I started to admire your attitude, you were very outspoken and smart for your age. But, I couldn't explain it, there was something that made you more compelling, like I could relate to you on so many levels, even back then.that's probably why I watched you grow and change..." He stops abruptly and looks away for a moment, as if he said something really embarrassing. I can see the beginnings of...of a blush (!) right across the bridge of his nose. He quickly drops his hands and looks up at me a small, guilty frown crossing his face. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to overstep my bounds, you know, getting all touchy-feely like that! You just looked like something was eating away at you, and I go a little over board when it comes to that consolation thing..." Now he's the nervous one, looking anxiously around the store, occasionally glaring at the few people staring at our*ahem*moment.
I'm trying to look anywhere but directly at him myself, a warm flush pooling at my cheeks. I pretend to have a sudden interest in the new "Sailor Rockettes" collectable dolls with the kung-fu grip. Don't ask, people are just WEIRD in their tastes. I sigh heavily. I guess we both felt like we said too much...I'm not exactly sure about what just happened. But I'll certainly take what Jounouchi almost said, or didn't say, as a good sign, that's for sure!
I try to break the awkward moment. " Hey Jou, don't worry about it. I've just been thinking about a lot of odd things lately, just don't pay me no mind. Look, isn't your shift about to end in a few?"
Jounouchi looks at me again, flipping his frown up into a grin. That's better, that's more the Jou I know! " Oh, yeah, I was just about to tell Taro that I was about to bounce on out, he's supposed to relieve me for this afternoon shift. Why, what's up?"
"Well, I was hoping we could go somewhere and just, I don't know, hang out, I guess. I mean, we haven't seen each other for a good while, you know, with me and school and you and the store and everything..."
" Sounds good! Look, just give me a minute to talk to Taro and gather my stuff, I'll be right back!"
"All right, I'll be at the back." I smile at his retreating form, I always liked watching him walk, he has an unusually easygoing gait. Here I go again, gushing away, the Almighty Fountain of Mokuba's Crappy Sappies. Well, excuse me for digging the guy, if you only knew the reasons why...oh hell, I'm starting to rhyme, not a good thing!
I head for the adult section, I need a good laugh. As soon as I walk up, a lady carrying an armful of hentai yaoi doujinshi nearly knocks me down. She excuses herself, and glances around nervously and coughs as she tires to discreetly tuck the doujinshi under her arm, tiptoing away. I shake my head with a chuckle, I tell you, some folks gotta have their smut, not that I can blame them, really!
I wander over to the all -male section, just out of curiosity. Normally, I would go to the girl-girl section for kicks, but there's only but so much of oversized, proportionally- incorrect boobies one could stare at! I pick up one doujinshi, and start to flip through it, laughing at the flowery dialogue and the overflow of tears and sweat. Then I come across one page that's quite interesting. I'm not sure if I can explain exactly what the position was, all I can say is that I didn't know, even as a guy myself, that men were that capable of THAT much flexibility! I've slept with women who were practically gymnasts, and those girls acted prudish compared to some of the moves I saw those guys pull off! Geez, on one panel there's even more overflow, but let's just say that this time, it's definitely not sweat or tears flowing from THESE guys..I don't even think that I could geyser off like that! I begin to blush as I start to placing my face and Jounouchi's in place of the men in the doujinshi.
I then feel a light tap on my shoulder. "See something you like?"
I must have jumped high enough to smoke clouds, I was so startled! I whip around and drop the doujinshi to come face-to-face with GoldiStud himself, his golden bangs fringing his amused brown eyes. I blush even harder, how long had he been standing there?
Jounouchi bends down to pick up the doujinshi, and smiles at the title. " Hmm, 'A Drink of Nectar'. You have good taste, Mokuba, this is actually one of the better quality yaoi. I had no idea you were into that raunchy stuff, I didn't think you even approved of it!"
I think that I would thank whoever would listen for making me disappear into thin air, which would really be nice right about now... I'm so mortified, I can't even talk straight. "I-I w-wasn't really looking at-t-t- it, it's n-not r-r-eally my c-cup of tea!"
Jounouchi places the book back, and places a friendly hand on my shoulder, giving it a reassuring pat. " Hey, man, calm down, I know you were just curious, that's all. Besides, even if you were into reading that, I wouldn't have minded, I read a few of those myself, just for shits and giggles! It's nothing to be ashamed about, believe me."
I start to relax. Man, does he know how to make a guy feel 100% comfortable in any situation, or what? Ah, there's another reason..."Okay. Are you ready to roll, I was thinking about a movie or something?"
"Oh yeah, capital idea! Hey, have you seen "Dammit, I'm Dead! 5' yet?"
I brighten up at the title, god, I love that series! " I thought you'd never ask! Is that the one with the sledgehammer-wielding masseuse?"
Jounouchi bounces up and down like a kid at Christmas, "Yeah, that's the one! I think the next showing's at four, so we'd better get going if we're going to make it."
I place an arm around him, compadre-style, I'm just that comfortable with him. " All right, let's head out! I'm parked right by the door." We leave the bookstore, conversing rapidly about the beautiful violence of the "Dammit, I'm Dead!" series. And you wonder why I like the man so much.Phase One: Simply ask him out...complete! Now, onward to Phase Two! Wish me fuc- I mean, luck!
Okay, so that last line was lame, but I've been working for 10-12 hours straight for the past five days (not that I'm complaining,really, OT is good!) in a row, so please excuse the corn factor, my brain's not wired correctly at the moment. Since ff.net keeps shutting down on me (I just barely got this chapter up before it wigged out on me again!), Chapter 4 will take a while, but not too long of one. Thanks again!
Disclaimer: Other than this and any other fanfics that I have written and are forthcoming, I have no legal claim, ownership or liabilities to anything affiliated to Yu-Gi-Oh or its likeness thereof. (Note: Now I think that sounds okay, but I bet it's still crap nonetheless...but this will from now on be my default disclaimer, I'll just repeat it on everything else I write from here on out. If you think it could use some revision, I'm always open to suggestions...I just find disclaimers rather tiring at times!)
A/N: Umm, not much to say here, except that I hiked up the rating because things are going to start gearing up really soon for Mokuba/Jou. Oh, I wanna give shout-outs: Digipuppy (who provided me with really great pics!), Dai-onna (the girl got skills like you wouldn't believe!) Ryou- chan, Mr. Cat, Ians-Koibito, Ninetails, Saendie(*faints*! What an honor!) Tammy, Agumon the Avenger, Sinsisters, pale lavender eyes, LadyoftheRingsCP2R, so many more wonderful people, you guys are ALL absolutely, positively (takes deep breath) AWWWEEESOOMMME! I'm dead serious, I appreciate each and every one who reads my fics, I know that you didn't really have to read them, let alone LIKE them, and your words of support really, really encourage me. I thank you all from the bottom of Seto's wallets (now, that's deep!) and even if you hate my stuff from here on out, I'll still have love for ya. I aim to please, so all comments are once again welcome, and please enjoy!
Still watching my feet, I hear him shift himself off of the stool, and come around the counter to stand right next to me. I then feel a warm, long- fingered hand placed onto the back of my neck, rubbing up and down gently from base to nape. My breath hitches as I feel a slow burn build on my cheeks. Jounouchi says softly, "Hey, are you okay, you look like you have a lot weighing on you. Whatever I can do to help, Mokuba, just say it, and I'll do it." He reaches up a little further to stroke my hair. Whoa, I - I didn't see THAT coming! I never thought that he would just touch me so.intimately like that, just out of the blue. And this is not just a regular clap on the shoulder, or a friendly jab on the arm, he's actually *caressing* me! I fight back the beginnings of a full-body shudder, I can't afford a moment of weakness, not even now!
But.I almost forget what I was going to say, I'm so busy concentrating on that hand in my hair, and how soothingly he massages my scalp. I'm very self-conscious about people touching my hair, I only allow a select few to even go near it. There's something about Jounouchi's hands....I've heard that hair is nothing more than dead cells, having no other purpose than vanity and warmth. But I swear that when he touches my hair, it comes alive as if each strand had nerve endings sending small, tingling shocks down my back! I lower my eyelids a little just to focus more on how gently, almost lovingly, he rakes his hands through my long black locks.
Suddenly, I remind myself of my purpose, and unwillingly break out my daze to look up at his face. He's still got that warm smile, but it seems even softer now, as if he already understood what was on my mind. His eyes, the color of freshly-turned earth, have a glimmer of something that makes my stomach leap a little. I feel that burn spread more throughout my face, could I be THAT obvious? I steel myself to finally speak, surprising myself by changing what I was originally going to say.
" Jounouchi, I... I have to ask you something."
He moves his hand down from my hair to smooth over my cheek, his other hand placed lightly on my shoulder. " Go on, Mokuba, it's okay, it's just me."
I drop my head again, and let out a cross between a sigh and a groan, he's not making it easy! "Uhh, Jou,I just wanted to know..man, I don't know how to say this.. okay, what do you really think of me?"
He places both hands onto my face now, lifting my head even more so that we could share eye contact. " I don't follow, Mokuba. I thought you knew how much I liked you."
I think, 'He liked me?! Wait a minute, that's not what he mean,now I'm taking things out of context. Maybe he does still see me as some strange kid!'
"W-well, yeah, I knew we've always been cool, you know, but what I meant was.do you still see me as a kid, or...as I am now? I mean, do you really see how different I've become?" I feel so foolish and corny right now, I'm going to make him freak...I try to look away, his eyes are boring into mine so intently.
"Mokuba." Jounouchi firms his gentle hold on my face slightly, only enough to keep me from turning away from his gaze. "Mokuba, please, look at me. I think I understand what you're getting at now. If you're asking me if I've noticed how much you have grown.the answer is a definite yes. When you were a kid, after I got to know you, I started to admire your attitude, you were very outspoken and smart for your age. But, I couldn't explain it, there was something that made you more compelling, like I could relate to you on so many levels, even back then.that's probably why I watched you grow and change..." He stops abruptly and looks away for a moment, as if he said something really embarrassing. I can see the beginnings of...of a blush (!) right across the bridge of his nose. He quickly drops his hands and looks up at me a small, guilty frown crossing his face. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to overstep my bounds, you know, getting all touchy-feely like that! You just looked like something was eating away at you, and I go a little over board when it comes to that consolation thing..." Now he's the nervous one, looking anxiously around the store, occasionally glaring at the few people staring at our*ahem*moment.
I'm trying to look anywhere but directly at him myself, a warm flush pooling at my cheeks. I pretend to have a sudden interest in the new "Sailor Rockettes" collectable dolls with the kung-fu grip. Don't ask, people are just WEIRD in their tastes. I sigh heavily. I guess we both felt like we said too much...I'm not exactly sure about what just happened. But I'll certainly take what Jounouchi almost said, or didn't say, as a good sign, that's for sure!
I try to break the awkward moment. " Hey Jou, don't worry about it. I've just been thinking about a lot of odd things lately, just don't pay me no mind. Look, isn't your shift about to end in a few?"
Jounouchi looks at me again, flipping his frown up into a grin. That's better, that's more the Jou I know! " Oh, yeah, I was just about to tell Taro that I was about to bounce on out, he's supposed to relieve me for this afternoon shift. Why, what's up?"
"Well, I was hoping we could go somewhere and just, I don't know, hang out, I guess. I mean, we haven't seen each other for a good while, you know, with me and school and you and the store and everything..."
" Sounds good! Look, just give me a minute to talk to Taro and gather my stuff, I'll be right back!"
"All right, I'll be at the back." I smile at his retreating form, I always liked watching him walk, he has an unusually easygoing gait. Here I go again, gushing away, the Almighty Fountain of Mokuba's Crappy Sappies. Well, excuse me for digging the guy, if you only knew the reasons why...oh hell, I'm starting to rhyme, not a good thing!
I head for the adult section, I need a good laugh. As soon as I walk up, a lady carrying an armful of hentai yaoi doujinshi nearly knocks me down. She excuses herself, and glances around nervously and coughs as she tires to discreetly tuck the doujinshi under her arm, tiptoing away. I shake my head with a chuckle, I tell you, some folks gotta have their smut, not that I can blame them, really!
I wander over to the all -male section, just out of curiosity. Normally, I would go to the girl-girl section for kicks, but there's only but so much of oversized, proportionally- incorrect boobies one could stare at! I pick up one doujinshi, and start to flip through it, laughing at the flowery dialogue and the overflow of tears and sweat. Then I come across one page that's quite interesting. I'm not sure if I can explain exactly what the position was, all I can say is that I didn't know, even as a guy myself, that men were that capable of THAT much flexibility! I've slept with women who were practically gymnasts, and those girls acted prudish compared to some of the moves I saw those guys pull off! Geez, on one panel there's even more overflow, but let's just say that this time, it's definitely not sweat or tears flowing from THESE guys..I don't even think that I could geyser off like that! I begin to blush as I start to placing my face and Jounouchi's in place of the men in the doujinshi.
I then feel a light tap on my shoulder. "See something you like?"
I must have jumped high enough to smoke clouds, I was so startled! I whip around and drop the doujinshi to come face-to-face with GoldiStud himself, his golden bangs fringing his amused brown eyes. I blush even harder, how long had he been standing there?
Jounouchi bends down to pick up the doujinshi, and smiles at the title. " Hmm, 'A Drink of Nectar'. You have good taste, Mokuba, this is actually one of the better quality yaoi. I had no idea you were into that raunchy stuff, I didn't think you even approved of it!"
I think that I would thank whoever would listen for making me disappear into thin air, which would really be nice right about now... I'm so mortified, I can't even talk straight. "I-I w-wasn't really looking at-t-t- it, it's n-not r-r-eally my c-cup of tea!"
Jounouchi places the book back, and places a friendly hand on my shoulder, giving it a reassuring pat. " Hey, man, calm down, I know you were just curious, that's all. Besides, even if you were into reading that, I wouldn't have minded, I read a few of those myself, just for shits and giggles! It's nothing to be ashamed about, believe me."
I start to relax. Man, does he know how to make a guy feel 100% comfortable in any situation, or what? Ah, there's another reason..."Okay. Are you ready to roll, I was thinking about a movie or something?"
"Oh yeah, capital idea! Hey, have you seen "Dammit, I'm Dead! 5' yet?"
I brighten up at the title, god, I love that series! " I thought you'd never ask! Is that the one with the sledgehammer-wielding masseuse?"
Jounouchi bounces up and down like a kid at Christmas, "Yeah, that's the one! I think the next showing's at four, so we'd better get going if we're going to make it."
I place an arm around him, compadre-style, I'm just that comfortable with him. " All right, let's head out! I'm parked right by the door." We leave the bookstore, conversing rapidly about the beautiful violence of the "Dammit, I'm Dead!" series. And you wonder why I like the man so much.Phase One: Simply ask him out...complete! Now, onward to Phase Two! Wish me fuc- I mean, luck!
Okay, so that last line was lame, but I've been working for 10-12 hours straight for the past five days (not that I'm complaining,really, OT is good!) in a row, so please excuse the corn factor, my brain's not wired correctly at the moment. Since ff.net keeps shutting down on me (I just barely got this chapter up before it wigged out on me again!), Chapter 4 will take a while, but not too long of one. Thanks again!