Rowan and Sakura, once again, do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! or any other anime for that matter. We are ownership-less. Hey! Come back here with our ship! Yes you, that creep in the back with the shady glasses and shifty demeanor! We know you have it and we want it back!
Ahem. Yes. Well…you get the idea.
Warnings: Uh…some smut…well, more lime-ish smut, but still…maybe some cursing…seeing how this was written before the fic itself…anyways…on with the story, right? One last thing- somewhere along the storyline it is to be inferred that Jou has the hots for Seto. Since it's not ever really mentioned flat out, just a heads up.
Pairing: SetoJou…heh !
Picking Up Rose Petals
"Jou, I'm ready whenever you are!" Yuugi called through the bathroom door, where Jou was changing. Yuugi then turned and admired himself in the mirror. At first, he had considered going as the Dark Magician, but quickly abandoned that idea when Otogi had described the challenge later that evening. He had then juggled several ideas- clown, Red Eyes Black Dragon, Exodia, mad scientist- but was very satisfied with the costume he finally settled upon.
With the assistance of Isis and the museum tablet, as well as Yami's half formed memories, Yuugi was able to construct a very good duplication of a Pharaoh's outfit. With the gold headdress Yami wore in his hair three thousand years earlier and a gold chest plate borrowed from Isis's collection, Yuugi added yards of bright crimson silk. His white kilt, the only manner of true clothing, was fashioned from one of Anzu's old skirts and a bright gold belt Yuugi had found awhile ago while clothes shopping. For shoes, Yuugi wore a pair of Shizuka's old sandals. Yuugi smiled at his costume, not putting his gold hawk mask on until he and Jounouchi entered the car and were on their way to the party.
Speaking of the blonde… "Jou, are you ready yet?" Yuugi called once more, getting slightly impatient. It was only seven fifteen, but Yuugi wanted to get there early, so that he would have the advantage of seeing the other guests come. Yuugi liked Otogi's challenge, and he intended to win.
"I'm ready Yuuge," Jou replied. The bathroom door opened at that moment, and out walked Jounouchi. Yuugi turned away from the mirror to look at his friend's costume and felt his jaw go straight through the floor.
"J-Jou…wow…where'd you get that outfit?" Yuugi exclaimed.
Jou was dressed in a barmaid's dress, with suspenders over his chest- which had somehow expanded- connecting the colorful skirt that didn't even try to cover Jou's thighs. The white frilly shirt Jou wore on top barely covered the blonde's stomach, and just hid the secret of his fake bosom. The frilly skirt rode up on Jou, and the blonde, aware of its near indecency, attempted to pull it down as his friend scrutinized his costume. "Mai lent it to me," he explained, his foot impishly lifting and hiding behind his left leg, like a shy schoolgirl on her first date. His feet were clad in a pair of black platform lace-ups, with short white anklets on as well, so that they didn't cover any of Jou's very exposed legs.
"Jou," Yuugi began, his eyes focused on those long limbs, "did you shave?"
Jou's hand shot up to his face, then he realized what Yuugi meant and laughed nervously. "Heh, yeah, I did. Didn't want to ruin the image with hairy legs."
Yuugi nodded absently as he examined Jou's face, the part that wasn't hidden by his mask. The mask was the kind that covered the eyes like a raccoon's face, making Jou look like a very red and green raccoon. Jou's eyes were a startling light blue, and Yuugi realized that Jou was wearing contacts. Jounouchi's lips were covered with a layer of light pink lip gloss that made Jou's mouth shimmer every time he spoke. Jou's blonde hair also sparkled wildly, and his hair was tousled beyond recognition. All in all, if Jou wasn't Yuugi's best friend and if he weren't absolutely sure that this was his friend standing before him, Yuugi would not have recognized him. "You look good, Jou," Yuugi finally remarked, causing Jou to smile.
"You think so? Can you tell it's me behind my mask?" Jou asked anxiously as he and Yuugi descended the stairs.
Yuugi smiled at his friend. "Nope! No one will know it's you, not even Shizuka!"
Jou sighed with what sounded like relief to his smaller friend. "Good," he breathed to himself.
Yuugi and Jou walked outside and climbed into Yuugi's car, Yuugi in the driver's seat. Before he started the car, Yuugi pulled his Horus mask on. "Well Jou, how do I look?" he asked.
Jou smiled. "Like a Pharaoh," he replied.
Yuugi nodded. "Good." He then started the car and began driving down the road to Otogi's house.
"Say, Jou?"
"Yeah Yuuge?" Jou turned to look at Yuugi after sitting in a few minutes of silence.
Yuugi kept his eyes on the road as he tried to find the right way to phrase his question. "I was wondering…well, I mean, why did you, y'know, choose that costume? Did Mai say she'd like it?"
Jou looked out the window wistfully. "I'm not doing this for Mai."
"Oh? Then who are you doing it for?" Yuugi countered, curious.
Jou didn't answer right away and Yuugi began to wonder whether he heard him or not. But finally the blonde whispered out, "Sometimes you have to take chances to get what you want. Even if it means looking like a fool in the process."
"Jou…"
"Yes?"
"You don't look like a fool."
"Thanks Yuuge."
"And Jou?" They had stopped at a red light, so Yuugi turned to look his friend in the eye. "Good luck with whoever he is."
"Thank you," Jou said quietly, after they had passed the traffic light and Yuugi was concentrating on driving once more.
"See Seto, this isn't too bad, now is it?"
Seto turned to the Princess beside him and shrugged. "I guess it's okay," he replied.
Shizuka, dressed up as the Princess of Tsurugi, pulled on Seto's sleeve. "Let's go inside now Seto!" she demanded.
The two had been standing in the threshold of Otogi's ballroom for the last five minutes, taking in the multitude of classmates donning their variety of costumes. Seto was costumed as the spellcaster Maha Vailo, swathed in blue silk. His headdress, which also served for his mask, was quite heavy, not that Seto was going to complain. After all, that's what he got for running out to the store at the last minute to get a costume- he got the undesirable one. But despite the weight of the Maha Vailo's 'hair', Seto had to admit he looked pretty good, though he had to watch behind him to make sure his 'wings' didn't poke someone's eye out.
Seto snorted. "Shizuka, I'm here; that's all I promised."
Shizuka rolled her eyes and stomped her pink booted foot in irritation. "Now what good is you coming if you don't go inside?"
Seto shrugged. "I don't find anything wrong with that."
"Please come inside Seto! For me?" Shizuka begged.
"Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt to see if the mutt has decided to show his true nature," Seto remarked.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Shizuka finally managed to drag Seto inside the room, then quickly vanished, leaving the CEO to his own devices. After frantically searching for the pink warrior for fifteen minutes, Seto finally came to the conclusion that he had been abandoned. Once Seto realized what Shizuka had done, he disappeared into the farthest corner in the room.
Surveying the ballroom, Seto had to admit that Otogi had done an excellent job decorating. Hanging from the chandeliers were streamers of black and orange, criss-crossing the ceiling like a giant spider web. The lights in the room were dimmed, giving off a sensual feeling, enhanced by the candelabras in each window, lighted with real candles. There was an eerie mist covering the dance floor, so it looked as if those who were dancing were dancing on clouds. In each corner of the room were gigantic carved pumpkins, each donning ghostly expressions and lighted with candles as well. Around the edges of the room were scattered random couches, all black and orange cushions to keep with the theme. It was in one of these couches that Seto sank into, hoping to make himself invisible.
To entertain himself, Seto began searching through the crowd to see if he could identify Yuugi and his annoying group of followers.
Seto first caught sight of Yuugi's notable hair, then realized that the smaller teen was dressed as a Pharaoh. "How fitting," Seto thought to himself. The Pharaoh was dancing with a girl dressed as the Dark Magician Girl, and Seto realized that it was Anzu. "Found two," Seto tallied in his head. "I wonder what Jou is tonight?"
Meanwhile, seated in a couch across the room, the scantly clad barmaid fidgeted nervously. 'Shizuka said he'd be here! Why can't I find him then?'
A pale hand reached over and disentangled Jou's hands, gripping one tightly. Looking up, Jou came face to face with the Lady of Faith. But he knew immediately that it was Bakura, having seen him in the costume a long time before.
"Hi Bakura," Jou greeted quietly.
Bakura smiled. "Why so nervous, Jounouchi?"
Jou gasped. "You…how…how'd you know it was me?"
Bakura laughed gently at the blonde's surprise. "Yuugi told me. So, have you found the guy you're trying to impress yet?"
"I'm not trying to impress anyone."
"Pardon me. Have you found the guy you want to jump in bed with, then?"
Jou blanched at Bakura's words. "That's a crude way of putting it!" he exclaimed, indignant.
Bakura shrugged. "But true, yes? So, who is this mystery man anyway? Maybe I can help you find him."
Jou's gaze shifted to his lap. "You're not going to tell anyone, are you?"
"I promise on my sister's grave I won't."
Jou lifted his head and looked into Bakura's brown eyes. Sensing the sincerity in them, Jou sighed and said, "I'm looking for Seto Kaiba."
"Orange couch across from us in the Maha Vailo costume."
Jou looked over to where the white haired teen said Seto was and gasped. Indeed, that had to be Seto! But why was he staring at him so?
The blonde haired barmaid was the most beautiful creature Seto had ever laid eyes upon. Sitting across the room from him, Seto admired her blushing cheeks, soft, supple lips, and her after-sex tousled hair. (Seto must have great vision…how the hell does he see all that from across the room? Only Kaiba knows…)
Seto stood up from his couch and crossed the dance floor until he was towering above her. Now that he got a good look at her, Seto realized that the girl was nearly as tall as himself. He could see now the glitter that decorated her beautiful blonde tresses and jealously noted her hands being clutched by the white haired women next to her, their fingers intertwined intimately.
The other woman leaned in and whispered something in the blonde's ear, causing her to giggle merrily. The ringing laughter emitted from her mouth enchanted Seto even further than before. Then, smiling, she tickled the other female's ear with her own secret words. They both leaned back and laughed again.
Seto gulped. He wasn't supposed to be affected like this. Damn the woman to Hell, for she had to be an angel!
Suddenly, the woman looked up into Seto's eyes. Seto froze. 'Does she know I've been watching her?' he thought in a panic.
The woman smiled. "Hello handsome. Care to have a seat?" Seto was surprised by her voice; it was deeper than he imagined it, but the sound sent shivers down his spine.
"Ah…yes, I would like that, please."
The woman smirked openly and slowly got to her feet. Seto eyed with curiosity her incredibly short skirt that swayed with every movement she made, leaving nearly nothing to Seto's imagination. Now that she was standing next to him, Seto realized that he could look straight into her brilliant sky blue eyes. She smiled, showing a row of beautifully white straight teeth, worth more to Seto than his company at that moment.
"Go ahead and sit then," she said in her deep, sensuous voice, gesturing to the formerly occupied spot.
"I think I'll be going now," the other woman said suddenly, standing up from her seat. "I'll see you around later, okay?" the white haired woman said, placing a delicate hand on her friend's arm.
The other girl smiled. "Thank you Bakura. Where will you be?"
"I think I'll be paying our gracious host a visit. Have fun." Bakura slunk away, leaving Seto stunned. If that 'woman' had been a guy- not to mention one of Yuugi's friends- what were the chances that this woman wasn't also a guy? But Seto just shook his head at that thought. The woman before him couldn't be any less feminine if she tried.
"Are you going to sit or not?" Seto sensed a hint of impatience in her tone. Seto immediately took a seat in the corner of the couch. The woman smiled. "May I sit as well?" She leaned down so her face was mere inches from Seto's own masked one. Seto felt his face heat up as he nodded. "Of course," he said apologetically, moving so that there was enough room for her to sit without being poked by one of his 'wings.'
The woman laughed. "I meant on your lap," she whispered in a sultry tone, moving her masked face closer to Seto's flushed one. Then in one swift motion, the woman was seated on Seto's lap, her legs stretched across the orange cushion.
Seto gazed at the woman in surprise, and his gaze wandered down to his lap, where he found himself staring at the edge of her skirt.
Chuckling softly when she saw where Seto's eyes had wandered, one tanned hand dropped to her thigh, pulling the skirt up in a teasing fashion. She smiled as Seto blushed. Was she trying to give him a message or what? Seto wondered, embarrassed but very turned on.
"I'm Katsuya," the girl said with a laugh in her voice, "and I assume that's you pressing into me?"
Seto blushed when her eyes dropped to below Seto's waist. "K-Katsuya was it? I'm S-Seto," the brunette stuttered. Whether intentionally or not, Katsuya had dropped her hand in between Seto's legs, quite close to the growing bulge in his costume in fact.
"Hello Seto. Pleasure to meet you." Katsuya slid her other hand off her leg and gracefully into Seto's hand, shaking it firmly. Seto was surprised to feel a calloused palm as opposed to the soft, unused one he had expected.
Katsuya pulled her hand away from Seto. "Seto…I like that name," she remarked.
Seto swallowed as he felt Katsuya's hand travel up his legs and brush against the pressing need in his pants. Seto bit his lip to stifle a moan as Katsuya undid the zipper slowly, then dipped her hand into his pants. "You like that Seto?" Katsuya whispered as she caressed him through his boxers.
"Aahh…" Seto moaned softly. "Please…Katsuya…we just met…I barely know you and…and you've already got your hand in my pants!"
Katsuya grinned nefariously. "Oh, but Seto, you know me," she said, her hand gently grabbing Seto, causing him to buck into her hand.
"I don't remember you from school, and I'm sure I'd remember a pretty girl like you," Seto replied, fighting the feelings jolting up his spine.
Katsuya's wicked smile widened. "I'm not quite the 'girl' you think I am." The blonde grabbed Seto's hand and guided it up her leg and under her skirt.
Seto's mind was racing. What was she doing? And what did Katsuya mean she wasn't the girl he thought she was? Unless…
Seto received his answer a moment later when his hand reached its destination where Katsuya's long luscious legs met. Seto gasped at the feeling of Katsuya's hand guiding him in fondling him. "You…you're a guy!" Seto whispered. Katsuya let go of Seto's hand then, allowing him free access to himself. Seto found his hand going to Katsuya's hardening manhood. As Seto began to knead Katsuya into full erection, it hit Seto. He didn't know why he didn't realize it before- Katsuya was the mutt- Katsuya Jounouchi!
And at that moment, the mutt was giving Seto one hell of a hand job; Jou was stroking Seto hard and fast and dedicatedly, so that Seto couldn't help but moan out load. His head fell back against the back of the couch, relishing in the feel of Jou's hand on his erection. But…this was wrong, completely wrong!
Jou leaned into Seto's body, pressing his chest into the brunette's, whispering sultry words against Seto's lips. "Kiss me, Seto," he pleaded.
Seto's hot mouth viciously attacked Jou's waiting lips, bruising them in the intensity of the brunette's passion. Jou returned the kiss with equal fervor, his lips parting willing, allowing Seto access to his mouth. Seto's tongue savagely took over Jounouchi's mouth, coaxing his puppy to play with him. Their tongues began a brutal battle, meeting in the middle as each teen fought for dominance.
Jou broke the kiss at last and laid his forehead on Seto's shoulder. His forgotten member twitched eagerly in Seto's lax grip, reminding the brunette of the other's need. Seto gave Jou's cock a squeeze, eliciting a groan of pleasure from the blonde melting in his lap. "Yes, Seto…Gods, that's good," Jou moaned into Seto's ear. "Gods yes…more, love, more!"
"Wait, wait!" Seto said suddenly, removing his hand from under Jou's skirt and pulling Jou's hand from inside his pants. "We can't- not here- not now!" he gasped.
Jou pouted but complied, zipping Seto's pants up and moving off his lap. "But Seto, why? Why isn't here good?"
Seto leaned towards Jou's masked face, brushing a strand of hair out of his eyes. "Too many people around."
Jou smiled at Seto, eyes shining mischievously. "Then maybe later we can find someplace a little more…private?" he asked, hopeful. Seto simply nodded, slightly worried by the look in Jounouchi's eyes.
The blonde smiled. "In the meantime, shall we dance?" he asked, standing up and offering the brunette a slender hand.
Seto gazed up at the blonde, at the light blue eyes sparkling from behind the brightly colored mask. But those weren't Jou's eyes! Jou had such soft, warm, luscious, honey-colored eyes. How could Seto trust these eyes, when they weren't Jou's own? Was Jou sincere? He had seemed truthful enough in the motel a week earlier, but this Jou…this was a lust driven Jou, who wanted Seto in every way. Was there any love behind Jou's actions? Could Seto take a chance on that- on those enchanting, false, eyes?
Seto sighed and stood up from the couch, without Jou's assistance. "Jou…"
The blonde gasped; perhaps he hadn't realized that the brunette knew it was him? Seto smiled softly at Jounouchi's surprise, and gently took the blonde's hand in his own. "What do you want from me? What is it you are after?" he whispered.
Jou's gaze fell to the floor in embarrassment. "I…I just want your love, Seto."
"Then why this?" Seto questioned, gesturing to Jou's costume. "What is this about?"
Jou sighed. "I want…I wanted to show you my love…" he muttered.
"You want to seduce me, is that it?" Seto said. Jou nodded.
Seto sighed; what could he say to that? He lifted Jou's chin with his free hand, smiling into those false blue eyes. "Let's dance, Katsuya." The brunette pulled the barmaid onto the dance floor and wrapped his arms around her slim waist, pulling her close to his body. The barmaid rested her head on his shoulder and wound her arms around his neck. Their bodies swayed cheek to cheek, heart to heart, soul to soul.
Jou was floating among the clouds, to be in Seto's arms. He sighed contently as they made their slow way across the floor. The couple passed a Pharaoh and a Dark Magician Girl as into each other as they were. Seto's 'wings' created a wide cushion of space around the pair.
They were in their own world together, but Seto wasn't sure how he felt about that.
Bakura, meanwhile, had waltzed over to Otogi in the front of the room. The raven haired host was engaged in a conversation with Mai- they were shamelessly flirting with each other. Honda was standing beside the two, his eyes flashing green with jealousy. Bakura smirked, imitating his yami, whether he was aware of it or not. Sliding up beside the brunette, Bakura hooked their arms together. "Honda, I was wondering if you would dance with me?"
Honda looked over, askance, at the white haired youth latched to his arm. "Bakura? I-" Honda glanced over to his boyfriend, then back to the other boy.
"Oh come on Honda! Just one dance- just for fun!" Bakura goaded.
Honda glanced over at Otogi, hoping he would protest against the two dancing, but his lover wasn't even aware that Bakura was hitting on Honda, being completely wrapped up in Mai. Bakura laughed softly. "C'mon, Otogi won't even notice you're gone," he assured. When Honda still hesitated, Bakura whispered, "Or maybe he will notice. Why not make him a little jealous, hm? And have fun while you're at it?"
That finally convinced Honda and, with a sly smirk on his face, he led Bakura on the floor, where the shorter male immediately took control. Bakura wrapped his arms around Honda's waist and pulled the brunette close to his body. Honda in return, placed his arms around the white haired teen's neck and rested his chin on the other's head. Their bodies swayed slowly in time to the music.
"Do you think he's noticed yet?" Honda whispered to his fellow conspirator.
"Not yet. Keep dancing," Bakura replied.
TBC…
It was easier for me to split this chapter in half. Also, the wait would have been a lot longer- the second half of the masquerade isn't done yet. Also, due to ban on songfics, I deleted the Clay Aiken song from this chapter, but if you reviewed and left your e-mail or have it in your bio, I e-mailed you a link to my LJ, which has this chapter with the song lyrics, so check that out if you want to. I accept anonymous comments and will be more than willing to respond to them as well.
Also, the next chapter would contain a short lemon scene except…you guessed it, it'll be on my LJ, along with the second half of the masquerade and the rest of Clay's song. So if you want me to e-mail you the link or if I already have- or heck, you just like the story, please review! Reviews motivation quicker updates!