Title: Naked Truth 3?

Author: Rroselavy

Rating: R

Pairing (s): Seto x Jounouchi

Beta: Akuchan

Spoilers: End of series

Disclaimer: I do not own or profit from Yu-gi-oh!

Summary: After being left behind by the rest of his friends as they go off to college all over the world, Jounouchi Katsuya finds that forging a friendship with Kaiba Seto isn't such an impossible task. But as their friendship deepens and both teens realize an attraction for each other, will they be pulled apart by someone who wants the blond teen all for himself?

Jounouchi couldn't remember exactly how it came to be that he finally understood that Kaiba was attracted to him. The revelation had just happened out of the blue one day soon after the first time the brunet had dropped in for lunch at the Game Shop. Even though they were both insanely busy in their respective jobs, Jounouchi realized that the CEO was not coming to see him for idle conversation about his brother. At first, the frequent trysts had been passed off as just that, but when he was cleaning up the remains of their lunch for the second time in one week, and Jounouchi noted that the brunet had called him every day in each of the two prior weeks, the blond came to the irrefutable conclusion that Kaiba was enjoying more than just his company.

He couldn't put his finger on why he knew that his hunch was correct. Kaiba wasn't the flirty type, so he'd given Jounouchi no indication that he was interested in him beyond their shared relationship to Mokuba. But he trusted his instincts, and the knowledge that the brunet wanted him was as thrilling as it was intoxicating. More and more, he began to look forward to the times that he could spend alone with the elder Kaiba, and found himself enjoying his time spent with Mokuba less and less. In short, he began to feel somewhat resentful of the younger teen's ability to monopolize his time.

If he'd been thinking clearly, perhaps Jounouchi would have seen all the outward warning signals of a boy in the throes of his first crush. But the blond was completely wrapped up in his own fantasies about Seto. He was shocked into reality though early in December when he idly remarked to Mokuba that he wondered if Kaiba would go out with him.

"You mean, on a date?" Mokuba had asked after a few seconds of silence.

"Well, yeah-"

"Jounouchi, he doesn't like you like that!"

"You don't think?" He asked, puzzled.

"No! Of course not!" Mokuba giggled. "In fact, I know that he's planning on asking someone else out."

"Oh," Jounouchi said, eyes downcast, and missing the utter look of relief that crossed the younger teen's face. "Who?"

"Um ... some business partner's son. No one you've ever heard of." Mokuba lied.

"Hn, he never mentioned anything to me." Jounouchi scowled.

"Why would he?" Mokuba asked innocently.

Jounouchi shrugged. Why would Seto, indeed? He thought dejectedly that maybe he had misread the brunet after all, and felt ill thinking that at some point in the future any time spent in proximity with Kaiba would probably be shared with his new boyfriend. Because he had no doubt that if Kaiba Seto was going to ask someone out, they would not refuse.

For a second, he wondered if Mokuba had been mistaken, but no one knew the young CEO better than his brother.

"Jou, are you okay?" A hand fell on his arm and he looked up to Mokuba's concerned face.

"Yeah, Mokie. I'm fine," he lied, and then glanced at the time, "but I can't hang out tonight-I promised Gramps I'd check in at closing."

"Oh, okay." Mokuba replied sadly. "But we're still gonna hang out tomorrow?"

"Um, yeah." Jounouchi agreed, though he knew that the last thing he wanted was to be in the same house with Kaiba. He felt his throat constrict. "How about we go to the movies or something. I'm getting tired of just hanging around your house."

"Okay!" Mokuba chirped brightly. "You pick the movie, and I'll come by and pick you up."

Jounouchi spent the first two weeks of December studiously avoiding the brunet and shirking his phone calls, which turned out to be easier than he had first thought it would be. The Christmas crush was in full swing, and he barely had time to breathe, let alone think about the other teen. Of course that meant he had little time for Mokuba, and he could tell from the strain in the younger teen's voice that he was none too happy about being pushed aside. He promised his young friend that once Christmas was over, and after the inevitable return season in early January, they'd spend plenty of time together. But he found no joy in that scenario, because it meant seeing the brunet, who by now Jounouchi had ascertained was out of his league.

When all his other provocations had failed, Mokuba implored the blond to spend Christmas Eve at the Kaiba estate.

"Seto asked specifically if you'd join us for dinner." Mokuba finally pleaded, all other enticements exhausted

"He did?" Jounouchi's mood lightened slightly.

"Yes." Mokuba said slowly. "So we can count on you?"

"Is anyone else gonna be there?"

"Not that I know of. Why?"

"Just wondering. Alright," Jounouchi said, distracted. His mind already focused on the evening he would spend with the brunet. He needed to find gifts for the two brothers. He couldn't just show up empty-handed.

"So we'll see you around eight? I'll send the car."

As he was driven to the estate on Christmas Eve, Jounouchi hoped that Mokuba had not been mistaken, and there would be no 'special' guests, but the blond steeled himself for the possibility. If that were the case, he could always beg off as not feeling well.

The house was bedecked festively for the season, strings of lights framed every window and garlands of Scotch pine boughs draped the railings of the steps and porch, and wound around the entry pillars. Jounouchi felt a pang of loneliness as they pulled in front of the house; he hadn't realized how much he'd missed the company of both Kaibas, missed the camaraderie, and the inclusion of being part of their family.

Kaiba was waiting for him at the front door. "Jounouchi," he said humorlessly as the blond approached the steps leading to the house.

"Seto, long time, no see! Merry Christmas!" He replied, suddenly feeling shy.

The brunet arched a brow. "Merry Christmas, Katsuya. Not from me trying-"

Mokuba appeared behind his brother. "Jou! I'm so glad you're here! Merry Christmas! Seto brought home some great new games and movies! A couple aren't even out in the stores or theaters yet!"

"That's cool, Mokie." Jounouchi shifted the packages he was holding to his other arm and embraced the young teen. "Merry Christmas."

"Dinner's waiting." Kaiba said, and turned on his heel.

"Don't mind him," Mokuba said without divulging any further information.

Dinner started off rocky. Kaiba was giving Jounouchi the cold shoulder, and the blond was beginning to have flashbacks from high school of the brunet's wrath. After they'd finished off dessert, Mokuba excused himself for a moment, and Kaiba wasted no time getting to the point. "So what the fuck is the matter with you?" He asked in a conversational tone, which made it seem all the more lethal to the blond.

"Whad'ya talking about?" Jounouchi pushed the remains of his dessert around his plate.

"You've been avoiding me."

Jounouchi sighed. "It's not that," he said slowly. "It's just been really busy at the shop." He offered. He glanced at the brunet's unreadable eyes and winced under the glare. "Look, it's just that ... I thought-"

Mokuba returned to the room, and Jounouchi noticed the brunet's expression had softened. "Let's go open presents!" Mokuba exclaimed.

Kaiba smiled benignly as Mokuba led the teens into the parlor where a tremendous Christmas tree had been decorated. Jounouchi sat on a low sofa and was surprised that the brunet took the seat next to him. "Mokuba, hand out the gifts." The brunet directed.

The next few minutes were an opening frenzy for the Kaiba brothers, with Mokuba receiving the lion's share of gifts. Kaiba was genuinely pleased by Jounouchi's gift, a pair of supple driving gloves. The blond had noticed that the pair Kaiba favored had been rather threadbare. Mokuba loved the Industrial Illusion titles that Jounouchi got for him, while the elder brother grumbled good-naturedly about the inferior quality of the graphics.

Jounouchi was stunned by Kaiba's extravagant gift of a new laptop. It meant that now he could keep in touch with his friends any time, instead of being at the mercy of the library, and he wondered if he could ever explain how much that meant to him. He thought of how great it would be to be able to IM with Honda at any time, and to keep in touch with Yuugi and Anzu by email. Mokuba's gift of an mp3 player was also more than the blond was comfortable with, but each brother urged him not to be self-conscious, the money they spent on him was a mere pittance. They settled in to watch the old movie "It's A Wonderful Life," and soon Mokuba was stretched out on the floor fast asleep.

As the credits rolled, Jounouchi stretched, saying "I better get home. Thanks for everything, Seto. This has been the best Christmas I can remember. Tell Mokuba I said thanks, too."

"Katsuya," Kaiba said softly so as not to disturb his brother. "Can we talk for a moment?"

Jounouchi nodded his head and the brunet led him to his study, which was just off the parlor. He leaned against his desk and folded his arms over his chest. "What's going on here?" He asked, and Jounouchi knitted his brow.

"I don't know what you mean," he said finally.

Kaiba sighed. "What's going on between you and my brother?"

Jounouchi looked at him wide-eyed. "Nothin'! We just hang out, we're friends!" He gaped at the brunet, puzzled.

"And what about us?"

Jounouchi felt his mouth go dry. "I don't know." He said slowly. "I guess we're friends, but ..." His voice trailed off uncertainly, and silence stretched out between the two teens. He was suddenly aware of the far-off ticking of a clock marking the seconds as they slipped by.

"Mokuba-" They both began at the same time.

"Said that I should back off." Kaiba finished. "He told me I was making you uncomfortable." He added. "I kept calling you to try and explain."

"Explain what?" Jounouchi asked, confused. "He told me that you were going to ... Oh!" He exclaimed as he deciphered what the brunet was saying. He hadn't been wrong after all!

"What was I going to?" Kaiba asked, his eyes narrowing.

Jounouchi blushed. "You were going to ask someone out. And I didn't want to be ... a third wheel."

Kaiba laughed harshly, and Jounouchi was surprised at his outburst. When the brunet managed to control his laughter, he addressed the confused blond.

"It appears my brother has had an ulterior motive to keeping us apart. I think he may have a crush on you."

"You know he's gay?"

Kaiba nodded. "And so do you? What else do you know about my family?"

"How-"

"Nevermind," Kaiba pressed. "What else did he tell you?"

"Th-that you ... are." The words echoed in the silence.

Kaiba nodded curtly, gauging Jounouchi's reaction. When the blond stared at him impassively he asked quietly, "And you?"

Blushing, Jounouchi nodded. "So there is no one else? You weren't going to ask someone out?" He asked hopefully.

"Oh there is someone I was going to ask out," Kaiba replied, and Jounouchi's heart sunk. "You." The blond's head shot up and he met Kaiba's mirthful gaze. The brunet stepped close to him and he whispered, "So, what do you say?"

He felt the brunet's hot breath caress his cheek and swallowed hard. In answer he nuzzled against Kaiba's throat and pressed his lips against the flawless skin. His tongue darted out and he tasted an undertone of salt, breathed in the soft fragrance of the brunet's cologne and became hungry for more. Kaiba pulled his face up and devoured the blond's mouth ravenously. Their bodies melded together, hands caressing and kneading any part that came within contact. Neither teen was aware of a pair of grey eyes that stared wistfully from the doorway.

Kaiba pulled away suddenly, panting. "If we don't stop-" his voice trailed off as Jounouchi's hand ghosted over his crotch and palmed his erection.

"If we don't stop, what?" The blond purred.

"Ng." Kaiba gasped as Jounouchi's fingers rubbed the brunet's groin before Kaiba pulled his hand away. He kissed it, tongue laving over the slender digits. "We have to take it slow, Jounouchi. I don't want to hurt my brother."

Jounouchi caressed the brunet's cheek and drew a ragged breath. "You're right. As much as I want you to fuck me," he grinned broadly at the brunet's dumbfound expression, "We have to make sure he understands that I can only see him as a friend."

"You are his friend?" Kaiba asked. "You weren't just using him?"

"Of course not! He's like a brother to me! You don't think-"

The brunet shook his head, and held Jounouchi's face in his hands. He pressed his forehead against the blond's. "Of course I didn't think that. But I had to ask, to get it out in the open. I want this to work between us, and we can't have anything hanging over us. His lips brushed the blond's chastely, only to be drawn into another heated kiss. Again he pulled away, and Jounouchi could see his eyes were dark with lust. "Gods I want to drill you right now." The brunet groaned. His dirty talk sent a thrill down Jounouchi's spine. "You need to leave, and I will talk to Mokuba about us after Christmas." He stared intently into the blond's amber eyes. "I love you Katsuya."

Jounouchi's eyes widened in shock and he hugged the brunet tightly. "I love you too," he whispered. It hadn't occurred to him until he'd heard those words from the brunet's lips; but he knew they were true. He loved Kaiba Seto. He smiled against the brunet's shoulder. What was more, Kaiba Seto loved him back.

He couldn't believe it when two days later Kaiba called to tell him that he'd discussed their relationship with Mokuba and the young teen was fine with it.

"Are you sure?" He asked incredulously.

"Yes, he said he was happy for us."

"And you believe him?"

Kaiba shrugged before he responded. He didn't fully believe his younger brother, but the fact that Mokuba adamantly denied having any feelings for Jounouchi seemed to mean that he realized how hopeless his crush had been. "I have to, Katsuya." The brunet didn't have the heart to present evidence to the contrary to Mokuba, believing that it would be best if he let Mokuba work it out on his own. Meantime, he and Jounouchi would take it slow, allowing Mokuba to get used to the idea, while at the same time, Jounouchi could prove to the young teen that he still valued his friendship. "He's going to call you to hang out again. Please ... don't brush him off."

"I wouldn't think of it. Though I do want to spend time with you. Alone, Seto."

The brunet smiled at Jounouchi's impatience. "As do I," he chuckled. "We still have some unfinished business, and I have the blue balls to prove it."

"Well, I have just the remedy for that." The blond snickered. "Anytime you're ready, hotshot."

Kaiba smiled at Jounouchi's bravado. "I think this New Year's Eve will be one for the record books." He said cryptically, leaving it to the blond's imagination just what he was planning.

TBC