Chapter Nine: New York, New York

(bashes her head against something solid) I don't know if you huys have heard this or not, but Yuugiou: Duel Monsters isn't the end of the Yuugiou series. There's a manga called Yuugiou R, (not really clear what the R stands for ... I'm thinking 'Reloaded') which isn't drawn by Takahashi-sensei, but the art's gorgeous anyways, and Takahashi-sensei is overseeing it and making sure they don't kill it. It includes all the characters we know and love (Pretty boys! Pretty boys!), although it's got little to nothing to do with the storyline DM followed. Oh, the Sennen Items are still there and all, but it's got something to do with Pegasus's brother (like one wasn't enough...) getting revenge on Yuugi for defeating Pegasus at Duelist Kingdom. So I guess YGO R is like an offical AU fic ... ?

Needless to say, the news that all didn't die with Atem made me very happy. I don't know if they'll release YGO R in America, since we're not actually done with YGO DM yet, but that's what we've got scanlations for. No, what really pissed me off was that fact that the animation studio's doing a Dragonball-esque spinoff, not based on any manga created by Takahashi-sensei. It doesn't even include the same characters. Kaiba's mentioned briefly, and Yuugi appears in the first episode, but then it's the story of some punk-ass little kid who's not nearly as pretty as ANY of Takahashi-sensei's characters! No offense if any of you out there are actually Yuugiou GX fans, 'cause I haven't seen the series, but it strikes a chord of familiarity ... sort of like what they did with Digimon: series after series of completely new characters. I mean, can they even call it Yuugiou if Yuugi isn't in it?

So, that's my rant. I feel a lot better now. Feel free to ignore me.

Okay, since we've reached forty-three reviews, there are two more fanart requests I'll do. I'm still working on Cali-san's, but my computer's being a complete bastard, so it might take a while. The lucky two reviewers are:

Firey Charizard

The Summer Stars

The Summer Stars: Yes, I particulary enjoyed Bakura's assult on Honda. I like Honda, don't get me wrong, but I like a half-mental Bakura even better. And yeah, I don't know psychology either. I'm kinda making it up.

Calico-Avengi: MPD is adorable? I'll take your word for it- Here's the REAL link for the fanart. http:www. pictures.php? pid131097 just take out the spaces, minna!

Kumori Sakusha: Sankyuuu!

chittyco: Cute and cuddly? Wai!

mandapandabug: Here's your eventful chapter...(blushes)

Nikyo: (sticks tongue out at YOU) You're welcome. And here's another update.

Firey Charizard: Thanks for the suggestions...I'm gonna use them! I was going with the whole Christmas theme, but...well...that kinda died. And I'm glad you didn't see it coming...Seto's other personality makes a brief appearence in this chapter. Finally, my writer's vlock is gone! Expect mucho updates!

Okay, this chapter MAKES THE RATING GO UP, but the rest of the story's gonna be PG-13, so I'm not actually changing the rating. I will, however, warn you when the lemon begins. Mmm, citrus.

"Ooh! Seto, look!"

Seto groaned and closed his book for at least the tenth time since they'd gotten into the limo. "Yes, puppy, I've seen the Empire State Building before."

"But it's so pretty, all lit up like dat ... "Jou smiled, staring at the building outside the window, and Seto couldn't help but wrap his arms around him.

"It is, isn't it?" He rested his chin on Jou's shoulder, nuzzling his cheek.

Jou blushed. "Seto ... "

"What? You're always complaining about how I never touch you in public."

"This isn' public. That limo driver-guy works for ya."

"Enjoy it while it lasts, mutt."

"Hm."

They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, Seto practically sprawled across the backseat using Jonouchi as a pillow. "Hey, Seto?"

"What?"

"Um ... why're we here?"

"Because the fucking traffic in America is ten times worse than in Japan."

"No, I mean why're we here? In America?"

"Because we're on vacation. I don't get it, pup, what are you talking about?" Seto pushed himself away from Jou so they could face each other.

"Well, it's jus' ... I've known ya a long time, Seto."

"Yes."

"And in all dat time, I don' think you've eva taken a vacation. At least not one dat wasn' related t' Kaiba Corp. So unless dis is a business trip—"

"I wouldn't do that to you."

"—there's a reason we're here that you aren' tellin' me. So spill. What's wrong?"

Seto could only stare at him. Jou was intelligent, perceptive, much more than Seto had ever given him credit for. Had he known the whole time that something was wrong?

"Aizawa-sensei told me I needed a break, that's all. I figured you could use one too."

"Whateva happened musta freaked you out pretty bad."

"What?"

"Normally you woulda told the doctor t' shove it," Jou said, leaning his cheek on his palm. "What did Aizawa-sensei tell you?"

Seto looked away. "I don't want to talk about it, pup."

Jou shrugged. "Fair 'nuff. I'll get ya t' tell me 'fore we leave." He grinned at Seto. "So where're we eatin'?"

"Eating?" Seto blinked, startled by the sudden change of topic. "Oh, there's a little place in the Village that's supposed to be nice—"

"The Whatsit?"

"The Village. It's part of New York."

"Oh. Do I hafta dress up?"

Seto sighed.

ooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooo

"Yeah, he's actin' really weird."

Seto paused, hand still outstretched as if he was going to knock on Jou's partially-opened door, which had actually been his original intent. Who was he talking to?

"I dunno, Yuug, he won't talk t' me. I mean, I don' think he woulda brought me along unless somethin' was wrong, but he won' tell me what it is. Yeah, we got in dis afternoon. I'm getting' dressed for dinner. What? Oh, no, I don' think so. Hey, I'm usin' up my minutes—I'll call ya later. Say hi t' Yami for me." Jou turned and Seto could see the small cell phone in his hand.

"Pup? Are you decent?"

"Am I eva?" Jou asked sarcastically. "C'mere and help me."

"With what?" Seto pushed the door open. Jou was clad only in a pair of jeans, his hands planted on his slim hips, and he was glaring at his suitcase.

"I don' have anythin' t' wear."

Seto stared at the bag, which seemed to have exploded, spewing bright cloth all across Jou's bedspread. "Don't have anything to wear? I don't even remember you owning this much clothing."

"Well, Otogi took me shopping."

"That's a dangerous combination of words," Seto said. "You didn't end up with any skirts, did you?"

"What? No!"

"Calm down, I was kidding." Seto picked up a blue shirt and tossed it at Jou. "Here. This is fine."

"Fine?" Jou pulled the shirt on and shot Seto a Look. "I wanna look better than fine."

"Why the sudden concern for appearance?"

"You're sexy without even tryin'," Jou said, angrily jerking a brush through his hair. "You wouldn' understand."

Seto grinned, wrapping his arms around Jou so they were back-to-chest, with Seto's chin rested on the top of Jou's head. "You think I'm sexy?" he purred.

Jou blushed. "Well—um—dat is—"he stammered, cheeks bright red. "Yeah. Kinda."

"Good," Seto whispered huskily in his ear, sending shivers up Jou's spine. Ah, God, why did Seto tease him like this? Didn't he understand how hard it was to contain himself when his boyfriend insisted on acting like that?

Probably not, he reflected. Seto either had complete control over his ... ah ... hormones, or he got off simply on watching Jou squirm. If it was the latter, Jou was going to castrate Seto.

Maybe that was a bit extreme?

Seto's tongue slid into his ear, tracing the fine ridges and crevices before withdrawing and caressing the side of his neck.

Nah. Nothing was too extreme.

"Mmm ... Seto ... "Jou closed his eyes and leaned his head back, savouring the feeling of his koi's hands roaming over his body. Seto's slim fingers slid under his shirt—

--and were just as suddenly gone. Jou whimpered in disappointment, but Seto was already halfway across the room, putting on his jacket. "We're going to be late."

"Seto!"

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"Why d'you do this t' me?" Jou asked, once they were seated in Seto's Mercedes for the week. "It's not fair. You can' be human."

"What are you talking about?"

"You ... touchin' me like dat, and then pulling away, like nothin' eva happened. S'not normal."

Seto flushed; he'd been wondering how long they'd be together before the lack of physical contact would begin to wear on the mutt. He was naturally affectionate, and Seto knew how badly it pained him when he was shoved away, but it was more than Seto could do to reach out for his little angel with less-than-honourable intentions. He didn't want to hurt him, but he couldn't make himself desire intimacy. The very idea made him sick.

"I'm sorry."

"You're not. You're a sadistic bastard, dat's all," Jou said cheerfully.

"No, pup, it's not ... "Seto sighed. He couldn't expect Jou to understand. He didn't want him to understand. "Never mind."

"S'okay. It's 'cause a' Yutou, righ'? Him an' all dem otha bastards dat ... "Jou broke off, staring determinedly out the window. "I undastand. You think ... you think you'll eva be able t' ... y'know ... "

"I don't know."

They sat in silence for a few minutes. Then: "Hey, Seto?"

"Hm?"

"You gonna tell me what's wrong now? You're actin' even weirder den usual."

"Thank you. And no."

"Come on. Whateva it is, it can' be dat bad."

"You'd be surprised." If Jou knew he was insane, what would he do then? He might leave ... walk out and never look back, and Seto couldn't blame him in the least, but he didn't think he could handle losing his puppy. "I don't—"

"It's got somethin' t' do wit' dat last visit you had wit' Aizawa-san. What'd he tell you?"

Seto jerked the wheel sharply to the right to avoid crashing into the car in front of him. "You ... how did you ... "

"I'm not stupid. Dat's when ya started actin' all weird." Jou glanced at him, the streetlights sweeping through the car and highlighting his glimmering amber eyes. "I'm not gonna make fun of you."

"That's not—"

"I was da only one dat didn't laugh when you told us you were gay, remember?"

Seto did.

"And I didn' treat you any different when you tol' me what happened wit' Yutou an' all."

Seto flinched.

"You haven' figured it out yet, have ya? I'm not gonna hate you, no matter what you tell me. I wan' you t' be able ta talk t' me. Anything dat's botherin' you, whateva's wrong, it doesn' matter t' me."

Seto wasn't crying. He had something in his eye, and that's why he was tearing up. Kaiba Seto didn't cry. Not over something as stupid as this. He firmly maintained his white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel. He screeched to a halt, realizing a moment too late that every car in front of them had stopped.

"Shit, Seto! You're gonna get us killed!"

"They were in my way."

"You nearly took off the back end a' their car!" Jou grabbed his wrist. "Pull over, Seto."

"No."

"You're in no condition to drive! Are you even supposed t' be operatin' heavy machinery when you're on meds?"

"I'm fine."

"You're shakin'. Are you gonna have another attack?"

"No."

"Please, Seto. Just pull over. I'll drive."

oooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooo

"Seto, are you sure? I mean, I think it'd be easier if we jus' went back t' th' hotel—"

"Really, pup. I'm alright." And it was true. Seto had stopped shaking, save for the traces of a fine tremble, but that might have had something to do with the six glasses of wine he'd consumed.

"An' is it really a good idea t' be drinkin' when you're on—" Jou's sentence ended abruptly when Seto's hand clamped over his mouth.

"Shut up, mutt," he snapped, seemingly having difficulty focusing on the blonde. A very un-Seto-like flush coloured his pale cheeks, and his words were a bit slurred. "I'm fine." He threw his head back, draining the last traces of alcohol from the bottom of his glass. "How's your food?"

Jou blinked, somewhat startled by the sudden change of topic. "Eh? Oh, it's good. How 'bout yours?" He glanced at Seto's plate, noticing with some dismay that he didn't seem to have touched it.

"Very good. You want some?"

"No, that's okay."

They sat in uncomfortable silence for a few minutes, until the server interrupted them. "Excuse me, sir," he said politely. "Is your food not satisfactory?"

Jou blinked at the man, missing enough of the English words that the sentence barely made sense. Something about food.

"No, it's fine," Seto said in perfect, unaccented English. "Could you bring me another of these?" He held out his empty wineglass. "And one for my friend?"

"Of course, sir." The waiter took his leave.

"I don't want any wine, Seto. One of us has to drive home."

"I'll call the limo."

"Seto..."

"Come on," Seto urged as the waiter reappeared with a bottle, uncorking it and filling their glasses. "Just try it. There's not enough in a glass to get you drunk."

"That's not my point. I don' want t' drink, Seto."

"Why not?"

"My father—"

"You're not your father. One glass of wine doesn't make you an alcoholic. Come on. This is expensive."

oooooOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooo

"...and den Yuug jus' turned bright red an' ran. You'd think he'd neva seen a naked guy 'afore." Jou laughed, half-sprawled over the table, gesturing drunkenly with his wineglass.

Seto snorted. "Knowing him, he prob'ly hadn't." Oh, he was starting to feel the alcohol now. Normally he would have hated the idea of anything, even wine, having influence over him, but it was sort of nice to be able to laugh like this, to be so...normal. That wasn't something he got to experience much.

Jou grinned and took another sip of wine. "Y'know, you're a lot nicer when you're drunk."

"I am?" Seto asked, hiccupping. His face was flushed, his eyes glazed, and his vocabulary had diminished quite a bit, the words slurring together.

"Hn. You're not as much of a hardass."

Seto drained his glass and Jou followed suit. "You ready t' leave?" Seto asked, getting to his feet, swaying unsteadily. "It looksh like they're closing up." And indeed, the waiters were clearing the tables, turning off the lights, and preparing to lock their doors. It was well past midnight, and the restaurant had closed an hour ago.

"Mr. Kaiba, I took the liberty of calling your limo for you and Mr. Jonouchi. I hope you don't mind, but I don't think either of you should be driving." The waiter paused nervously, as if half-expecting a blow.

"Nah, sh'okay," Seto slurred, staggering towards Jonouchi. "Here. This should cover it." He handed the waiter a wad of bills. The man glanced at it.

"Sir, this is too much—"

"Keep it. Good shervice," Seto said, throwing an arm around Jou's shoulders. Somehow, leaning on one another, the two managed to make it out the door, where the limo was waiting for them at the curb.

Ten minutes later, the limo driver decided that Mr. Kaiba definitely didn't pay him enough. He was considering installing soundproof glass.

ooooooooOOOOOOOOOooooooooooo

BEGINNING OF LEMON!!!

"Mm...mutt, the door..."

Jou rummaged in his pocket for the room key, sliding it into the electronic lock and shoving the door open, managing to keep a firm hold on Seto's waist, not to mention a tongue down his throat. "Happy?" he purred, nibbling at Seto's throat. The brunette moaned, tightening his grip on Jonouchi.

"Hnn...Jou..."

"Yeah?"

Seto's cobalt eyes opened, still glazed over with the alcohol, and he bit his lip as they met Jou's golden orbs, fluid and glimmering, with all the spectacular sheen of sunlight and honey. He wasn't sure exactly what it was, lust denied for seven years, or maybe the wine still coursing through his veins, but he knew what he needed, what he wanted, and he leaned closer to Jou, until his breath tickled the shorter man's ear. "Fuck me. Hard."

Oh, it was the wrong thing to say and he knew it, but he'd said it and now all he could do was wait. He clung to Jonouchi, watching those beautiful eyes for repulsion, revulsion, anger even. All he saw was a slight surprised widening, followed by a smirk. "Are you sure 'bout this?"

Seto swallowed nervously, nodding. "Fuck me. Hard." It was so much easier the second time, now that he knew Jou wouldn't shove him away. Jou flashed him a grin, teeth flashing in the gloom, almost eerily reminiscent of Seto's dream.

And then Jou grabbed the back of his head, jerking a handful of his hair as he brought their lips together in a crushing, stifling kiss. Seto could barely keep his balance as he was propelled towards his bedroom, Jou's hands insistently tugging at his clothing. He was sure he heard a few buttons rip off of his shirt as Jou casually tossed it aside, his tongue flicking at Seto's lips, silently asking permission, thought Seto was sure Jou would continue even without Seto's consent.

Rather than fighting this early into the night, Seto parted his lips, allowing Jou's tongue to slip inside. Then rough hands were planted on his chest, shoving him backwards onto the bed, roaming over his abdomen. Jou pulled back long enough to breathe and remove his own shirt. "You sure 'bout 'dis?"

He was straddling Seto, pinning him to the mattress, moonlight streaming down on his shoulders, glimmering in his hair. Seto could barely breathe, couldn't speak, and he knew he looked ridiculous, chest heaving as he fought for oxygen. Seto arched his back and moaned as Jou began an assault on his chest, alternately licking and biting at his nipples. How was he expected to answer?

"Sure?" Jou apparently had taken his words to heart; he gripped Seto's flesh hard, enough to leave bruises around his wrists. The rush of pain felt good, burning his nerves enough to make him feel alive.

"Haa...nn!" Jou's hair tickled his stomach as the blonde's tongue delved into his navel, the soft strands a sharp contrast to the fingers pressed into his skin. Jou jerked at Seto's pants, irritated by their presence, and slid them off, tossing them aside where they landed next to Seto's shirt on the floor. Black boxers soon joined them, and Seto was stretched out on the bed, naked, laid bare and blushing madly.

"Sure?" He wasn't giving up, insistent as always. Jou held out his hand, fingers extended towards Seto, and the brunette accepted them, opened his mouth, laving them with his tongue. When he had finished, Jou withdrew, flipping him onto his stomach with ease, twisting his arms behind his back.

Seto whimpered as a finger slid inside him, then another, stretching him and making him acutely aware of just how much this was going to hurt. The fingers probed deeper, searching, and Seto let out a hiss as they found that little bundle of nerves deep inside him. He keened and clenched his fists.

"Yes!" he cried, an exhalation, a plea, the only word he'd managed since they'd began.

"Dat what you want?"

"Aahhn!" No warning, nothing, just the agonizing burn of invasion and Seto cramped up, his body curling off the mattress, straining at the grip on his wrists. He sobbed, choking on a gasp. He could feel himself splitting in two and it hurt, oh God did it hurt—

A man knelt over him, driving himself deeper into the lithe body beneath him. Seto's eyes were wide, his throat clenched, managing only a choked whimper as the man rocked back. But he couldn't see the man in the darkness, he couldn't remember, what did it matter, just another faceless body—

Teeth closed on the juncture between neck and shoulder, piercing flesh, demanding immediate attention. Something hot and wet trickled down his cheeks, but whether it was tears or sweat, Seto wasn't certain. "Pay attention to me," Jou hissed. Cruel, but keeping him grounded, keeping him there, preventing another attack, another flashback, and Seto was grateful, even through the pain.

He burned, throbbed, and he was certain he was bleeding—it had been so long—and then somehow the throb ebbed away as his body adjusted, fitting Jou's, moulding to him. Something cool trailed across his hot face, soothing, again and again. Seto opened eyes he didn't remember closing. Jou's fingers, long and slim and comforting, attempting to calm him, caressing his skin gently. Seto's wrists were free, his arms dropped limply to his sides, and he fisted them in the sheets, stifling a whimper.

Somehow it struck him; this was real, Jou was real, insistent, demanding, and he was letting him. No, encouraging him. He was really doing this, not just another dream. Jou was inside him, filling, moving, and it was wrong, because as Jou's hand slid under him, wrapping around him gently, he could barely contain a moan. Jou's hand slid along his thighs, not bruising, not rough, just there. It felt so good, and the absence of pain terrified him more than anything ever had. It wasn't enough, he needed more, he needed that burning, wrenching intensity he had trained himself to enjoy as a child.

"Harder," he begged, and Jou complied. He understood what Seto wanted and he tightened his grip on the brunette, twisting harshly and reducing him to a pitiful, sobbing mass, moaning and gasping a string of words that made no sense at all. The fingernails of the blonde's free hand sank into the creamy, tender skin on the inside of Seto's thigh, deep enough to draw blood.

That was it, the wave of heat reached its crest and Seto screamed as he fell, fire coursing through his veins and ebbing away, draining him. He lay there, dazed and utterly exhausted as Jou rode out his own climax before pulling out of Seto gently, carefully, not wanting to hurt him any more. As if that could matter.

Seto's mind struggled, through a haze of sex and alcohol, to comprehend what had happened, what Seto had just done. His sides heaved as he fought for air, his heart finally slowing down to a normal pace, and his damp body clung to the sheets. It still hurt.

He was torn, he could tell now, and the remainder of Jou's climax burned in the wound, throbbing, a comforting reminder that it hadn't been too strange. He knew this feeling, he was used to the pain afterwards, and it somehow made him feel better that he had felt something unpleasant after all.

"You okay?" Jou licked gently at the bite-mark on Seto's neck, in apology, it seemed. The words startled him, reminding him all of a sudden that Jou was there.

What was he supposed to say now? No one had ever stayed afterwards; usually he lay silent and unmoving until his latest assailant left before he struggled to his feet and cleaned himself off the best he could. Was he required to speak? He didn't want to turn around, to see the man who had fucked him. He didn't want to see another self-satisfied smirk, because then he'd never be able to sleep again.

Oh, God. He'd slept with Jou.

He wasn't entirely sure why it had struck him now, but as soon as it did his stomach dropped. Stupid. This wasn't just another stranger, another person he'd never met in daylight. It was Jou, someone he knew, his boyfriend, someone he cared for. Jou's fingers gripped his chin gently, forcing Seto to turn and look at him.

He wasn't smiling.

His face was flushed, lips red and hair sweat-soaked. His golden eyes gleamed with concern, his brows furrowed into a questioning look. "Wh—what happened?"

"We had sex. Did you like it?"

Anything beginning with "yes," or even "hnn" would have sufficed, but Seto couldn't force the words out. He couldn't think. He was paralyzed with fright, and everything was shutting down. He was so tired...

Jou's brow wrinkled as Seto stared at him, eyes wide, tears streaming down his cheeks soundlessly. "Seto? Seto, what's wrong? Did I do somethin'?"

"It should have hurt more," Seto mumbled, scrubbing at his eyes with the back of his hand in a decidedly childlike motion. It was a bizarre incongruity with his normal personality, and Jou could feel the hair on the back of his neck stand up. Something was amiss, but he couldn't quite place his finger on it...

"Why?"

"It just...should have." Cautiously, Seto spread his arms to Jonouchi, looking for all the world like a child asking to be picked up. "Are you going to leave?"

Jou pulled Seto into an embrace and Seto buried his face in the hollow of the blonde's neck, curling up against him. "No, I won't leave."

He could feel Seto smile. "Goodnight angel."

(A/N: Okay, in case anyone missed it, Seto started having another attack when he realized what he did, and his other personality took over. The other personality, who I don't actually have a name for, but is a little-kid Seto thing, takes over in times of extreme stress. It's Seto's mind trying to protect his sanity.)

(A/N: And this was my first time writing a SetoxJou lemon...I hopt it didn't suck too much. Ja ne, minna-san!)