While We Were Apart
When he'd first realized who had opened the door, Yugi had fervently hoped Kaiba'd sold the place. The baby girl's chocolate hair and ice-blue eyes had pretty much killed that hope, but he was still hanging to it desperately by a tiny, fraying thread. A thread which broke the very second Mokuba came down the stairs. And he'd been so sure that Jou hated Kaiba.
What had happened?
"Jou-niisan."
"Hmm? What is it Mokie?"
That was really Mokuba? Maybe Yugi'd been gone longer than he'd thought. He'd grown some himself, but at sixteen (1) Mokuba was a good three or four inches taller.
"I'm going out with Tanner, remember? I thought I heard the doorbell ring."
"You did," Jou assured the teen, "but it was Yugi, not Tanner."
"Yugi? Oh hey, haven't seen you in a long time."
Yugi nodded weakly to show that he'd heard Mokuba. He was really beginning to think this visit wasn't his best idea ever. How could the others have not known about all this?
The doorbell rang again, shattering Yugi's thoughts and making him jump a little. Mokuba answered it, exchanging a cheerful greeting with the other boy before looking over his shoulder at Jou.
"We're going out now Jou-niisan. Will you be okay? I mean, the baby's due soon."
Jou waved him off.
"Go have fun. I'll be fine. I have both Seto and the doctor on speed dial, and I'm not gonna be alone for a while. Unless you have to leave soon Yugi?"
Yugi shook his head. He had time, he might as well stay and get some answers. Though he didn't like the thought of what Mokuba had seemingly implied.
"Well," Mokuba paused, reluctant. "All right then. I'll be back in a couple of hours."
"Okay. Call if you're not gonna be home for dinner."
"I will. Bye Jou-niisan. Bye Nataani (2)."
The little girl giggled softly and waved. Yugi turned to Jou as the door closed behind the two younger boys.
"Tanner?"
"Huh? Yeah, he's Mokie's boyfriend (3)."
"And Nataani?"
"This little cutie here." The baby girl. Of course.
"You and Kaiba--" Yugi faltered.
"Got married," Jou supplied.
"How long?"
"Hmm?"
"How long have you been married?"
"Three and a half years."
Almost as long as he'd been gone, Yugi realized. Had the pair fought continuously because of him for some reason?
"How'd you...?" He motioned to the baby.
Jou sighed and ran his free hand through his bangs.
"I think you better sit down Yugi. Come on into the den. I guess I owe you one heck on an explanation."
xx to be continued xx
Yes! I'm stopping there. And only I know what's coming next. smirk Okay, a couple things:
(1) Eh, I think we're gonna go with twenty-two for most of the gang. That puts what, six years between Mokie and Seto? Somethin' like that. Does anybody really know how many years there are between them? I've seen so many different ages for the both of them.
(2) Yes, she has a name. I, however, am not the one the came up with the name. Nataani is one of the names Faith Hunter Jounouchi did not use in "Run Away Puppy 2", so I'm borrowing it. It's not mine. I think it's pretty though.
(3) OMG! Mokie has a boyfriend! What? I needed him out of the house for a while. And there's just nothing quite like giving poor Yugi three (or would it be four?) heart attacks in one day. Mokie will be back sometime later in the fic. After his date of course.
RedEyesDarknessDragonLady: Thanks. Um, I realize your question is very simple, and maybe I'm just reading to much into it, but could you please specify it? I'd be happy to answer it once poor clueless confuzzledlittle me understands.
koalared: Why thank you. Of course I'll continue. And actually, that description of Jou is what started this whole fic in the first place, so I'm glad you like it.
invisible girl: Look, I updated. I was definitely going for the shocked Yugi bit. Everything always seems to turn out the way he wants it too in the end. Time for a change if you ask me.
Nora D: -glomps back- Sorry it was so short. I continued for everyone. I think this chapter's a bit longer (293 wordsvs 405, yeah a little). The baby's name is Nataani. I'll explain next chapter, and isn't Mokie just too cute?