Disclaimers: I don't own Yugioh. All I own is this story and my original characters.
Dedication: To all my Reviewers esp. to those faithful to my first chapter story, Accidentally In Love. Thanks for reviewing my stories. I owe it all to you. I love you guys!!!! Also, I would like to thank clarity for clearing up the Jou name thing. Thanks!!! ::hugs Clarity::
Pairings: Seto/Jou (main) others may pop up.
Warnings: Shonen-ai. Fluff and Angst (lethal combination). Also, if there are grammatical errors, I'm sorry. I'm half-awake.
A/N: My very first Christmas fic (every author needs one, ne?). I hope you'll like it. It's divided into three chapters and I intend to put it all up before Christmas but I'm not promising anything. The rough draft is written and all I need is to type them. As for AIL, I lost the disk so I have to rewrite the chapppies. I may post after this story is finished. On to the fic then.
Summary: Fifteen years had passed. Two teens, trying to find the perfect gift, found a story that will change two lives that yuletide season. Can old flames rekindled? Can the love return? Will they hear, that Christmas day, the heart's melody?
The Heart's Melody: A Christmas story
Chapter II: Letters from the Past
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Domino City. December 23, year 2021
"Blasted weather." Blue eyes glared at the snow-covered window trying to melt it with its heated stare. A young brunette girl sighed as she walked out of the comfortable café and into the cold streets of Domino. She sighed again. She had yet to find the perfect gift for her boyfriend.
A small smile crept at her lips at the thought of her boyfriend. Who would have thought that the school loner and school bully could be together? Sure, Kein's not the perfect boyfriend but for her, he's the greatest.
She continued walking, glancing at stores for Kein's gift. She stopped for a while under the huge Domino Christmas tree. She looked around when her eyes fell into an antique shop. There's nothing special about the look of the shop but what caught her attention is a music box placed in front of the display window.
"A music box…hmm…that's it!" making up her mind, she walked across the street and entered the shop.
------------------------------------------------
Bells jingled as she entered the warm shop. Different antique items of all sizes were on display. She heard a warm voice welcoming her but she didn't see anyone.
"Hello?" she asked.
"Please come in. I'm at the back. I'll be right there for a sec." The warm voice replied. She walked towards the counter when a man entered from the back room. Judging from his looks, he might be around thirty years old but he's still handsome with his blonde locks and soft honey eyes.
"Good afternoon Miss. My name is Jou. What can I do for you?" the man beamed at smile and she can't help but blush. Why is that this person reminds her of her boyfriend?
"Good afternoon too. I was looking for a gift." At that Jou nodded.
"There's a lot that you can choose from in this shop. Every piece has its own story to tell and represent so choose wisely." Jou then lead her towards the trinkets section.
"You can choose here if the recipient is a girl. Or here," he then turned to another section. "If it's for a boy."
"I'd like to have the music box at the window." She said. At that instant, the smile disappeared on Jou's face.
"Sorry…but that item is not for sale." He said with sadness laced in his voice.
"Why?" she asked confused. Jou walked towards the display window and got the music box. He then motioned her to sit at the nearby chair. He then sat on the opposite chair and placed the box at the table between them.
"Miss…?"
"Kouyama Sajiko. But call me Saji ."
" Very well then, Saji-san. Like what I've said before, every item here has its own story to tell. This…" he pointed at the music box. "is no exception."
He then opened it and revealed a card and a ring inside it. A soft lullaby hum filled the store that made Saji relax. She noticed that the ring had an engraving inside of it and the card is a duel monster card named Supreme Blue Eyes Black Dragon.
"Would you like to hear it?" Jou asked. Saji, now filled with curiosity, just nodded.
-----------------------------------------
December year 2004It was one of the coldest year Katsuya ever encountered. But the weather didn't dampen his holiday spirit. He's in a festive mood and no cold weather could stop him from that. He had made up his mind and nobody could change his mind.
He's gonna ask Kaiba Seto out.
----------------------------------------
"Katsuya, are you sure about this?" Shizuka asked his brother who's by the way now sporting a huge grin.
"Yep sis! I'm gonna ask him out tonight." Shizuka just sighed.
"Well, you sure are confident. By the way, how are you gonna ask him out?" Katsuya gave her a piece of paper to read. Shizuka sweatdrop.
"Wow, an intriguing note. What a genius." She looked at her brother flashing a V sign.
------------------------
Domino City. December 23, Year 2004
Katsuya fidgeted at the party the Kaiba brothers held at the manor. The room was crowded and he couldn't see pass his arm's length. Good thing he held Shizuka and Yugi close or he'll be lost and alone on that big hall. At around nine they had formed a circle under the huge tree and started exchanging gifts.
He looked around for the brunette and when he saw him, he silenced himself. He doesn't want to argue with him esp. now that it's a Christmas party. Luckily, Kaiba doesn't want to argue either.
"Big brother! Join us, we're exchanging gifts now!" Mokuba invited. Seto seemed reluctant at first but gave in. Jou inwardly sigh with glee. The only space available was beside him. Hurrah for him!!!
They continued and it was surprising to get a gift from Kaiba. Jou was sure it's because of Mokuba but that doesn't matter. He got a gift from Kaiba.
----------------------------
Domino Square. December 24, 2004. 10:10 P.M.
"Damn!" Jou cursed as he ran towards the park. His father just got to be a scrooge on Christmas Eve making him cleans his erhm-not so clean- room.
"I'm late at my once in a lifetime opportunity! Somebody hates me up there!!!" and if his luck just got worst, Kaiba would've leave the minute the clock struck 10:01.
He ran full felt, nearly dodging a snowman and an old couple out for a walk. He caught sight of the tree and was relieved to see Kaiba near it…freezing.
"Maybe I could fix that." He said with a grin.
-----------------------------
The minute he appeared, he knew Kaiba would lash at him. But it didn't come so he took the initiative to apologize.
"Sorry Kaiba. My dad didn't let me out until I've cleaned out my room." He grinned at him sheepishly, inwardly wishing Seto wouldn't be THAT mad.
"So what's up with this meeting, mutt? And I expect this to be important." He said with a scowl. He growled at the comment but bite his tongue.
"Kaiba, it's Christmas eve. Can we not fight? I'll be civil to you and vice versa. That includes dog comments." He looked at him with weary but determined eyes. Seto looked dumbfounded but nevertheless nodded in agreement.
-------------------------------------
It was the best day of his life. Katsuya asked him to go skating with him and after that they went on a food trip. He laughs his heart out when Seto admitted he'd never tasted Takoyaki before! At around midnight, Katsuya gave Seto a Christmas bell and led him towards the big Christmas tree. He's about to put it when Katsuya stopped him.
------------------------------------
"Make a wish first." Katsuya answered to lessen Seto's confusion. He then held his bell near his heart and closed his eyes. Seto did what he did and wished.
Katsuya with his eyes closed wished for a sign that Seto as the one meant for him.
His sign would be if Seto kissed him at the stroke of midnight.
They placed their bells and waited for the Christmas tree to light up by the fountains. He didn't dare look at Seto for he knew the minute he did, he can't stop himself. He'll kiss him.
"It's only a minute before midnight. Legend says that when a bell rang on the exact Christmas Eve, the one who owned the bell will have his wish granted." He said to break the silence. At the corner of his eyes, he saw that Seto's just looking at him with fascination at his eyes.
'Wait a minute…fascination?' before his mind could process the information he found himself being kissed by the one he loved. So he did the most logical thing to do, he kissed back.
As they broke for air, his hands are now tangled at Seto's neck while Seto's arms are around his waist. He can't help but smile.
"Look, my wish did come true." He saw Seto nodded at him, taking it as his chance he admitted his love. "I love you."
He saw Seto's eyes to glaze with tears and choke on the words he had always wanted to hear.
" And I love you." They kissed again, pouring the love they had for one another. At the back of their minds, they could hear the faint ringing of bells.
--------------------------------------
"Apparently, Seto had been inlove with him sometime before the party. And he's afraid that Katsuya wouldn't accept him." Saji looked at the man who's now wistfully looking at the card he's holding.
"What's Seto's gift to Katsuya?" she asked, quite curious to know what Seto gave to the one person he really loves.
"Why this music box of course." Jou showed her the engraving under the box.
'Ryu loves Koinu'
--------------------------------------
Year 2005
Katsuya and Seto had a wonderful relationship. They still fight of course, they can't change that but after that they became close even more. They celebrated Valentines Day, summer vacation and their birthdays together. It was a blissful relationship.
--------------------------------------
Domino City. Jou's House. Nov. 25, 2005
"Seto, can we go out? Have dinner or something?" Katsuya asked.
"I can't. There's a board meeting five minutes from now and after that, I had to go to Tokyo to sign some important papers. I'm sorry pup." Even if Seto's voice is laced with sincerity, Katsuya can't help but pout. Good thing they're talking at their cell phones or Seto would see that.
"I see. Have a safe trip then. I'll be waiting for your call when you arrive there. Ok?" He tried to have a cheerful voice and succeeded. Good thing Seto didn't notice a thing.
"I will. What do you want for a souvenir?" Seto asked. Hiding his concern with a cold voice. But that doesn't affect him anymore.
"Nothing."
"Ok. Well, I've got to go now. Bye pup."
"Bye Ryu. And by the way Seto…"
"Hmm…?"
"Don't you dare look at other girls or boys there!" Seto chuckled at that. His puppy could be very possessive.
"Fine. Bye pup." With that, the line went dead. Katsuya sighed looking at his cell phone. Kaiba gave it to him a few weeks after they got together saying it's a means of communication. It ticked him that Seto would choose a puppy covered cell case.
But what really saddened him is that with that cell phone, Seto always breaks his heart.
-------------------------------
Dec. 25, 2005
It was year now after they had been together. For Katsuya, it's the happiest day of his life. But keeping their relationship secret had kept its toll. He didn't know why but it pained him to see Seto in public yet he can't hold his hand. He's jealous to see lose Seto to the world.
-----------------------------
"What are you thinking about, Koinu?" Seto as he hugged his puppy from behind. They're currently at their favourite place at his balcony and Katsuya was silent the whole time.
"Nothing…its just…Seto, are you embarrassed of me?" He didn't dare meet the other's eyes, knowing there'll be confusion.
"No. Why are you saying that?" Seto nuzzled his neck before kissing his cheek. Katsuya sighed before answering.
"It's just…I don't want to lose you…" Seto stopped nuzzling and made Katsuya looked at him, eye to eye.
"You won't lose me Katsuya. That I can promise you. Even if time comes that you don't want me anymore, I'll be with you, behind the shadows." Katsuya turned and hugged him.
"The world wanted a perfect CEO, Seto. The one who doesn't have any emotion."
Seto just hugged him tighter. "Then screw the world."
----------------------------------
Maybe because of that conversation Seto decided to end all our hiding and come out to the public. Katsuya was surprised yet his heart swelled with love. At first, they weren't accepted but they don't mind. Seto's brother, his dad and sister, their friends…they all supported them. That made them strong and ready to face the world. After a few weeks, the public accepted the fact that the cold CEO isn't cold anymore. And up to this day, no tournament had been that big as the one who's held at January 2006.
----------------------------------
"I remember now. My dad said he participated at that tournament. It's the biggest ever and he said it was the most emotional too." Saji interrupted. Jou smiled at her.
"Yes. At that tournament, this card." He showed the card. "Was released. Yet, it can only be used when you have both the BEWD and the REBD. And the only dragon who can compete with its strength is the Supreme Red Eyes White Dragon."
"Was those really allowed at that tournament?"
"Yes, but the owners didn't used those cards. Well, not until they face off in a duel."
"Who won?"
"Both of them."
--------------------------------
Katsuya knew that he'll never win against Seto's Ultimate dragon. He doesn't have any dragon capture jar or a card that have enough strength to go through with it. He eyed the red eyes on his hand but that won't help. He took a breath and pulls two more cards.
----------------------------------
Domino City. Duel Monster tournament. Year 2006
'Great. I picked a fusion card and one blue eyes. Wait a sec… BLUE EYES?!' he thought. He looked at Seto who's now smirking.
'When did he? He can only think one time that Seto held his deck and that's when he shuffled it. And even if he did gave me one of his blue eyes, how did Seto manage to have the ultimate dragon?' he looked at the card and saw that it was Yugi's blue eyes. But he ripped it apart didn't he?
He put the flame swordsman down for his defence and waited. Seto just attacked it causing him to lose more life points.
He pulled another card from his deck that made his eyes bulge out. This could be his once in a life time chance.
------------------------------
"He used this card? He must've kicked Seto's butt!" Saji exclaimed. Her interest to know how to play these cards just grew with the strange man's stories. But what intrigue her most was that why would Katsuya leave all these memories on a shop.
Jou shook his head. "He had thought of that and for a moment believed in it. This card is far stronger than the BEUD. But he got the shock of his life when Seto unfused his dragons, put down another REBD and fused it with his blue eyes. It was the twin of his fused dragon card."
-------------------------------
The happiest moment they have together is the one when they celebrated Seto's birthday. They had gone to a week long vacation to Hawaii. But something nagged him that there's something about Seto's stare that their lives will change forever.
---------------------------------
Domino City. December 03, 2006
He knocked before entering Seto's room. As he opened the door, he saw a brown blur in blue trench coat rummaging around the room.
"Seto, are you free—" before Katsuya could finish his sentence, Seto cut him off with a kiss before taking his laptop off his desk.
"Sorry pup. I need to go to America to meet with the American board. But I'll be back before Christmas I promise." He then took a large suitcase and put it on his bed. He entered his walk-in closet and got some clothes he'll need.
"Pack some overcoats. It'll be cold there." Katsuya reminded, applauding for himself for not breaking in front of the great CEO.
Seto just nodded, doing what Katsuya told him. He then took some clothes and entered the connecting bathroom.
"How long exactly?" he asked as he packs his boyfriend's clothes on the open suitcase. He also took some disposable toiletries from the nearby drawer.
"About two weeks. But like what I've said, I'll be back before Christmas." Seto answered. He heard some water running and he knew that the other was taking a shower and he mustn't be disturbed.
After a few minutes, Seto walked out of the room, dressed for the flight. "You're leaving now?" Katsuya asked in a low voice. Seto raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.
"Yeah." He lifted Katsuya's chin before kissing his nose. Katsuya smiled at him but his smile didn't meet his eyes. "Have a safe trip then. And don't you ever dare cheat on me, you hear!" this time, he's back on his playful manner.
"I promise."
"Here. So that you won't be that cold." Katsuya took off his scarf and put it on Seto. Seto smiled at the gesture before leaving Katsuya…again.
-------------------------------
At that time, Katsuya realized that their relationship would not last. Seto would not be his completely. It would be selfish to take him away from his company. He knew he might not be as important as Mokuba to be put first before Kaiba Corp. but he's also not worthy enough for Seto to leave his company. He won't be that selfish. So he'd decided to end it all when Seto returned.
----------------------------------
Domino City. Domino Square. December 25, 2006
"Marry me." The words shook Katsuya to the core. Did Seto just…?
He looked at his boyfriend then to the ring Seto slipped in his ring finger. Yep, he just had proposed.
He looked again at his lover's eyes and his heart broke knowing he'll deny the happiness the other was expecting. He took a step back before shaking his head.
"No."
----------------------------------
He broke up with Seto on the day of their second year anniversary. In front of the Christmas tree nevertheless. After that he never heard from Seto ever again.
----------------------------------
"He's stupid." Saji flatly said before putting down the ring she's holding. If she's not mistaken, it's the same ring Seto brought for Katsuya.
Jou looked at him with weary eyes. "Yes. And for that stupidity, he suffered for fifteen years." He put the ring and the card inside the music box.
"If he'd only think of his happiness, he won't suffer." She heard Jou sighed before getting up, placing the music box in its place. He then took a magazine and placed it infront of Saji. It showed Kaiba Corp. and it's latest expansion at Russia.
"But if he did, this Corporation would not make it where it is right now…" he sat on his chair, smiling sadly.
"It's him or the company. He knew it would be this or a lifetime waiting for someone who's on other's beck and call."
"You still love him, then why don't you tell him?" Saji pointed at the ever-handsome CEO, presumably on his thirties too. Jou looked at him shocked.
"How did—" Jou was cut off by Saji.
"I'm not that stupid. I saw how you delicately touched that box. Besides, you don't sell it yet you put it where everybody could see it…where you can see it."
Jou smiled before getting up. He then took two bracelets from the nearby stand.
"This bracelets are from India. They said if two lovers wear this charm, they won't part ever." He gave it to Saji who looked surprised.
"Think of it as a thank you for listening and as a Christmas gift."
"Thanks." Saji stood up, preparing to leave.
"I hope to hear from you soon." Jou smiled before waving goodbye. Saji waved back before leaving the shop.
------------------------------
As she left the shop, she looked at her clock showing that it's quarter to eight. She looked back at the shop and saw Jou closing up. She knew he still loves him so what's keeping him from getting back with his love.
"What if…? Nah! It's worth the try. After all, I need to get him a Christmas present too." She looked at the charms at her hands and she'd decided to have a meeting with the CEO of Kaiba Corp., Kaiba Seto.
She smiled at herself, knowing it would be too easy. Besides, she can ask Kein's help.
-End of part 2