Disclaimers: Don't own them. Don't Sue.
Warnings: This is shonen-ai so if that doesn't suit you well; I suggest you don't read this.
Also... /.../ -Yami to Hikari/... / Hikari to Yami. In this fic, the Yamis can
materialize without taking over their hikari's body.
Accidentally In Love Chapter 18: Parallel Worlds 0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0
Seya looked at himself in front of the mirror for the thousandth time. Dressed in simple jeans, white shirt and a blue jacket, he looked like Jou when he was still a teenager, well, except that he had blue eyes just like Seto Kaiba. Thinking if he should change his shirt, a knock from the door interrupted his musings.
"Come in." he said before going to his closet to pick another shirt, this time a green one.
"I'd say you look better on what you have now rather than on that ugly green tank top you're holding." Mokuba sat on Seya's bed, showing his distaste on the shirt.
Seya just shrugged. He chucked the shirt back in the closet and slumped beside his uncle.
"Nervous?"
"What can I say? This is my last day...if I fail, I can never forgive myself knowing such a future exists. A future where those two hearts are separated and were slowly dying of heartache. I caused all of this so I need to fix this. Even if I can choose to go back, I won't be happy knowing that in this world, my parents and many others are suffering." Seya took out his locket and flipped it open. It showed the picture of the whole gang plus their kids.
Mokuba just nodded knowing how much guilt his nephew was feeling. If only he could help...
Seya's face suddenly brightened when a thought occurred to him.
"Uncle, I've just got an idea. Would you help me?"
"Sure. What is it?" Mokuba agreed. Well, here's his chance.
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Jou sighed as he assess his reflection taking note of the changes that took place in his body for the last twenty years. There's nothing much except that he had grown taller, his body a lot toner and his skin a bit paler. He still has his boyish looks but he's a man now. A full-grown man.
"And so was Seto..." he thought as he remembered watching Kaiba just that morning when the brunette had an interview in a morning talk show. He's promoting another game, his group of companies' main product, that'll be launched next month. But he didn't pay attention to any details that Kaiba had said. Instead, he watched him and noticed the changes from the boy he had, erase that, still love from before to the regal man he's seeing right now. After that, he disregarded it blaming it on being so nostalgic. Seto had moved on so should he yet he couldn't. He couldn't forget about him.
Then there's his meeting with Kaiba Seya, Seto's son. A son that was determine to get him back with Seto. Saying that there's another chance.
Jou sighed once again. If there's really another chance, he'll take it no matter what.
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An hour before the concert would start, Domino stadium was packed with Jonouchi Katsuya's die hard fans. Some of them were not even from Domino and if one would look closely, they'll see a couple of foreigners too proving how popular Jou really is.
Of course, being one of the most famous and richest man not only in Domino but in the entire world, Kaiba Seto was able to book an entire special seat box, the one having the best view of the stage below, all to himself. He might be selfish and had paid a great deal about it but it's all worth it. It was the best seat in the house.
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Seya fidgeted in his seat as he looks for his father in the crowd. He had yet to come back from Kaiba corp. when Mokuba told him they had to go or they'll be late and all the best seats would be taken. He glumly followed his uncle out, silently praying that his father would show up.
"Don't worry about Seto. He won't miss this. He'll probably pay a whole VIP box just for him self just to watch Jou. I know him. He'll be here." Mokuba patted Seya's shoulder before
turning back in the stage infront of them. The opening band, Mad soldiers, had started and their upbeat music really did stirred up the audience. Two more songs from them and they ended making the crowd wilder than before. Jonouchi Katsuya had now taken the stage.
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As the show progressed, Seto had yet to show up but Seya's less worried than before. He believed his uncle Mokuba and he had faith in his father.
After Jou singing his ninth song, the stage lights grew dim for about three minutes and after that, a lone spotlight focused on a white figure standing in the middle of the stage. It was Jou, clad in a shirt, slacks and an overcoat all in white. The outfit looked like the one he had wore on that winter concert, minus the scarf. The spotlight gave him an ethereal glow that made him look like an angel.
'My angel...dressed in his white clothes once more. Would you say goodbye again to me puppy?' Seto thought bitterly as he remembered the winter festival like it was just yesterday. The pain he had felt when Jou sang his goodbyes had resurfaced yet he didn't care. As he looked at the glass panel, he could faintly make out his pained face making him aware that for the first time in the past twenty years, the past had to be brought up once again. The painful past had to be laid out in order to move on...hopefully on a better future.
"Good Evening everybody!" Jou's voice brought him back from his reverie as the blond bowed infront of his fans. His smile made him glow even more in Seto's eyes and in that brief moment,
Seto had dared to hope once again.
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"I, Jonouchi Katsuya would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart. The road to stardom had brought me to different places and meet different people. Those were the things I'll never regret. Yet, all things must've come to an end." the crowd was silent as they dread what do their idol has to say. "And as I close this concert with a special song, I'd also like to announce my retirement. I want to say goodbye to all of you. As I've said I've been to different places but like Dorothy from the wizard of Oz, I knew that there's no place like home. I'd like to say goodbye to my old life and say hello to another chance." at that, Jou looked straight at the VIP box where Seto was, knowing the brunette was watching him. At that he started...
0/Hi, hello, its nice to see you again,
I didn't quite expect this.
I don't know what to say/0
Seto's heart jumped when he heard Jou's soft voice sing. The song...would he dare believe it was for him? Would he dare hope that it was the blonde's way of saying that there's a chance? All his businessman instinct told him to wait and not jump into conclusions but his heart was fighting with all his might to be heard, to hope that this is not a dream.
0/Seems so strange to see u standing there Thought u left forever now u reappear/0
Seya's mouth hangs open just like the other fans around him. Jou's quitting? But why...? His eyes widen when it finally hit him. Jou's going to try it. He looked at his uncle Mokuba, who's trying to stop his tears. After all, Kaiba's aren't suppose to cry.
They aren't suppose to love either but in every rule there's an exemption.
0/Yes I know its been a long, long time and yes we left on a sour note that let to a sad goodbye/0
Ryou silently watched the show from his seat. He couldn't believe too that Jou's quitting showbiz but not as shocked as anyone. After all, he's been experiencing a lot of weird things that day. For example, the mysterious ticket that someone had sent him. He wanted to go to the concert yet he didn't have the money to waste on an overpriced ticket. So when he saw the ticket in his mailbox, he couldn't, for the life of him, return it to the sender. Of course, it also helped his conscience that there's no return address so he won't feel guilty on using it.
He had enjoyed the show so far and was really moved by Jou's current song. He's so focused on Jou that he didn't notice that someone was standing beside him not until it coughed to get his attention.
"Ye-" his words are caught up in his throat when he saw who was standing beside him. It's none other than his Yami, Bakura!
"Professor, I didn't think I'd meet you here. Say, is this seat taken? I took a bathroom break A while ago and when I came back, someone was sitting on my seat. I noticed this empty seat beside you so do you mind if I sit here or is it for someone else?" Bakura didn't know it but every time he meets this petite professor, he felt as if he had known him for a very long time.
Like he's a light that guides him through the darkness of his life. He felt at ease with him and if he dare say it, he's starting to fall in love.
"Kura, I didn't know you're a Jou fan too. Sure, that seat had been empty ever since the show
started so feel free to sit on it." Ryou offered one of his brightest smile happy for the fact he'll be able to sit beside his Yami once again, even though 'Kura' doesn't remember him anymore.
"Not really. Everyone's going so the store had closed earlier than usual. As I'm getting ready to get back home, I noticed a ticket inside my locker. I didn't know who gave it and since I've got nothing better to do, I went here." Kura shrugged. "Say professor, after the concert, would you care have a cup of coffee with me? There's a cafe nearby and I heard they uh..."Kura finally noticed that he's babbling and just gave the professor a sheepish grin.
"Sure. Also, don't call me professor. Just Ryou." Ryou beamed up. He didn't know if it's just mere coincidence or someone had planned all of this. If somebody did, he can only point one person. 'Thank you Seya...'
0/but here we are my heartbeats once again.. is this a new beginning what can I say/0
Yugi had taken short bathroom break before Jou sang his final song but because of his size, it wasn't easy for him to get back on his original seat.
"Ouch!" he yelped as an unknown person once again has pushed him. Seriously, why do people have to be such babies? If not for Anzu's nagging he wouldn't be here in the first place. In fact, if that mysterious ticket hadn't come during his phone conversations with Anzu, Anzu's nagging wouldn't have happen. Just trust his luck to be very bad at timing, so there he was at the concert, with Anzu checking up on him if he's still at the stadium 'enjoying' the show.
"Stupid Video phones." he looked at his Video phone with all the glare that he could muster but that just made him a cute in a sourpuss kind of way.
Another shove and he found himself falling and wasn't able to stop it. As he close his eyes and expect the hard floor, not to mention to be stepped upon, he was surprised he landed on something soft...and sweet smelling?
'Floors aren't soft...and definitely not sweet smelling.' he thought as he opened his eyes finding two red orbs staring back at him. It was Atemu from the grocery store! The one he'd been crushing ever since he'd seem on his first day on the job.
"Are you alright aibou?" Yami Atemu asked as he helped Yugi get back on his feet. He didn't know why but holding the smaller one in his arms is very familiar. And where did 'aibou' came from?
"What did you call me Yami?" Yugi asked absentmindedly. His eyes widen when he realized he's just called Atemu dark. "Oh Sorry! I didn't mean to call you that!" Yugi apologized, afraid that he had lost his chance with his crush. But instead of getting offended, Atemu just smiled. He didn't know why but hearing it from Yugi, it somehow seemed quite alright...even slightly familiar.
"Yugi isn't it?" when Yugi nodded, Atemu continued, "don't worry about it. I don't mind. I'd also like to apologize for calling you partner earlier. I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it Yami." Yugi clamped his hand on his mouth. He had said it again! As he watched the smaller man, Atemu can't help but chuckle. His aibou looked so cute. Wait a sec...his?
"How about this? Let's be friends." Atemu looked if Yugi's got any objection before he continued, "and you can call me Yami but I get to call you Aibou."
At that, Yugi smiled. "Sure Yami! Thanks."
Atemu returned a small smile of his own. "Since we're now friends, do you want to go to the nearby cafe when the show's over?"
"I'd love too." Yugi agreed silently thanking Anzu and the mysterious person that gave him the ticket.
0/well hello…../0
As Jou finishes the song, the whole stadium was silent for a moment before erupting into cheers and applaud. Some even asked for an encore but Jou politely declined. He looked at the VIP box directly in front of the stage and can't help but be wishful that it was Seto's who's standing there.
'I've done my part Seto...all you need is to close the gap.'
As he left the stage, he can't help but feel the anxiety of waiting for his future to be sealed.
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Serenity silently watched her brother as he made his way towards the dressing room. The statement he gave before singing the encore was pretty heavy but she knew that it was time for them to go home. It was time for her brother to face the ugly past.
"I didn't knew about Jou quitting." A familiar voice made her turn around. Her eyes brighten as she saw the man she fell inlove with twenty years ago but haven't got the chance to be with since she had gone with his brother to support him.
"Hiroto, I'm glad you came." she send him a bright smile which Honda returned with a sheepish grin.
"I really don't have the money to buy the tickets but someone had sent me one so I used it. I sneaked here at the backstage hoping to speak with Jou but I've got a better person to speak with."
"Oh really?"
"Yes, now would that person accept an invitation from a poor mechanic just like me? I may not be able to buy the tickets on my own but I could offer the nice lady a cup of coffee." Honda smiled. He had missed Serenity and he'll grab any opportunity that presents itself to him.
"Why sure, the nice lady might want a mocha frappe." at that, Shizuka took Honda's hand and went to the exit.
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Seya and Mokuba's about to go to Jou's dressing room when they saw someone already beat them there. And that someone's currently lip locked with Katsuya.
Mokuba smirked as he looked at seya then back at the kissing couple. "I told you. You should trust your father more Seya. He's still has it inside him." at that, he pulled Seya away before he could disturb them.
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As Jou pulled away, he gave his partner his winning smile. "Hello to you too, Seto"
Seto smirked. "It's been a long time, pup."
"I missed you too." Jou replied. He knew Seto wouldn't say it outright but he could read it in
his eyes.
"Jou, we need to talk. We need to settle things between us that we have left hanging for the past twenty years." Seto looked at Jou seriously, trying to hide the pain that's been recurring ever since the concert begun.
"I know. But seto, please remember that even if the past hurts us, it doesn't matter. We just need to go back before we could move forward. We had to close that chapter by giving it its ending and start a new one." Jou relied with all the sincerity in his heart.
"Don't worry pup. I won't let my pride get in the way if you promise you won't run again."
"Promise." and they sealed that deal with a kiss.
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Mokuba and Seya entered the manor, exhausted but happy things had turned out the way they planned. On their way home, they saw Ryou and Bakura, Yugi and Yami and Honda and Serenity having a 'date' at the nearby cafe. Plus the fact Seto and Katsuya's definitely giving it another shot, things are going smoothly.
Seya glanced at the clock and knew that the time for him to choose is coming near.
"Have you chosen?" Mokuba's voice broke the silence.
"What?"
"I said, have you chosen? Which future you're going to take?" Mokuba's eyes are solemn,
dreading which would Seya choose.
"Yes..."
"Seya, why do all of these when you could just choose to go back in your own future? Why bother?" Mokuba's been itching to ask that ever since Seya started this whole plot to get Jou back. It really doesn't make any sense...
"Did it ever occur to you that I might not be the Seya you've helped raise? I know there's a Seya in this world, that Seya's not me, but I had gone through three days of his life and my life was hell knowing there's a better future...a happy future. A future I was ready to ruin just to feel a day being a normal kid. But I've learned my mistakes that's why I had to do this. To make up for it somehow...I owe him so much. I took his future..." Seya looked at the family portrait at the den, looking at his picture yet knowing its not him.
"What?" it didn't occur to him what Seya have thought. He knew even before Seya was born that one day he'll wake up and find the Seya from the past returning to experience the future he had molded. That Seya's the same seya he had taught how to walk, the seya he had accompanied with Seto on going at his first day in school. The seya that called him uncle Mokie...come to think of it, this Seya hadn't called him his pet name.
"Uncle Mokuba, I think it's time. I better get back to my room. Please tell Father and Dad when they come back, sorry...and that I love them." With one final hug, Seya went to his room.
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There was a bright light when Seya closed his eyes. He knew that in a few moments, the strange man would appear and ask him if he's like to stay or go back to his old future. As he drifted he's able to reflect all that had happened. Him meeting the man and having the ring. Going back in the past, as he goes to high school with his parents. Meeting the Yugi tachi when they're younger and being a part of it somehow. How his parent's relationship developed and how he ruined it. The short-lived joy he felt living in the new future. The overwhelming sadness when he learned that none of his friends existed in that realm. The determination to fix things up and the happiness knowing that he might have yet to succeed but there's a chance that he will.
All of those emotions swirled inside Seya's mind that he failed to notice the bright light had ceased leaving him in a plain white room.
"Where am I?" he asked as he looked around. The strange man was nowhere to be found and he's starting to feel fear.
"You're in between the worlds. A place where everything's nothing and nothing is everything..." the strange man appeared beside him, sitting on a white plush chair.
"What? In between the worlds?" Seya looked around him but only saw a vast white landscape.
"So have you made your decision?" the strange man changed the topic.
"Yes..."
"Good. But before that, I want to say something. There are many realms that exist. Different
Universes yet parallel worlds. Different situations yet same people...do you follow me"
Seya nodded. His dad had mused on it once. He wondered if there's another world where a Jou
existed but they're not exactly alike. He laughed at it yet as he listens to this man...he
could see his dad's logic.
"There are only two factors that made all of this possible. Fate and freewill. Yes, its a combination of the two. One cannot live without the other or it'll upset the universal balance."
"But what's that got to do with me? I want to choose now." Seya's getting impatient, the sooner he chooses, the sooner he gets back.
"Patience my child. Didn't your father taught you never decide unless you know all the facts." the man stood up when they heard sounds of footsteps.
"I see that the other guest have arrived. With that, I can begin my lecture." The man turned towards the source of the footstep motioning for Seya to follow. Deciding it wouldn't harm him if he spare a few more minutes, he silently followed.
As they got nearer to the source, the man made him stop. He couldn't see quite clearly who was it since the man's was blocking his view.
"Sir, I've made my decision." a voice coming from the other side greeted them.
"I see, but before that I'd like to say something." then the old man repeated his weird lecture before but this time, the boy waited patiently unlike Seya.
"With that in mind, I'd like you to meet someone." The man stepped out from view and Seya's jaw dropped in the floor. In front of him was like his twin brother.
"Kaiba Seya meet Kaiba Seya..."
-tbc
A/N: yeah...I know that it's a cliffie but I had to stop right there...I'm feeling sick right now but I wanted this up before I get swamped with term papers once again. I'm about to type the last chapter and it would depend on its length if I would add another chapter or not. My brain's freezing so sorry if I did make some mistakes...sorry!
Oh yeah, the song was titled 'Hello'. I taught about using the song 'the past' when I've encountered this. I thought it was appropriate since the song Jou sang before they parted ways was 'goodbye'.
one more thing, I tried giving hints at the earlier parts of this chapter about Seya meeting another Seya (all those mirror, reflections thingy) and I don't know if it works. It's just an idea and I'm used on giving hints on my stories like foreshadowing something. It's a habit and I can't seem to let it go.
Oh! and one more, there's a rumor that there's a rule in FF that writer's aren't suppose to respond in their reviewers and if they did, they'll get suspended. Please tell if its true or not because I don't want to get this story into trouble. Just to be sure, all review responses for the last chapter could be read at my profile. Sorry for the inconvenience.