At first Yuugi wasn't sure if he was imagining things or if Jyonouchi really was happy again.
It had to have happened shortly after Obon, because he didn't see his friend during that entire time at all. It was only just before school started up again that Yuugi noticed the change.
Jyonouchi's eyes were bright again, and he smiled easier than he had in a long time. The smiles weren't those he'd made up to reassure them that he was okay (and Yuugi had been able to see through them, but felt it wasn't his place to say anything), but sweet and genuine... and sometimes shy. Those were the smiles he flashed whenever Ryou was around, as if he was keeping a secret that could be seen as good or bad.
Yuugi knew he wasn't imagining it when Jyonouchi started pleading off a few outings after school, saying that he had something else he needed to do. About the fourth time it happened Ryou approached him and asked what was going on with the blond. And although Yuugi desperately wished the answer was something other than "I don't know," that was really all he could tell the pale-haired teen.
The fifth time, Yuugi and Ryou decided to follow him.
Needless to say, they were speechless when they found out just who had given Jyonouchi back his smile.
"You know, if you keep your mouth open like that for too long you'll attract flies," was the first thing said after about a minute... followed by an amused snicker from a certain blond teenager.
"Be nice, Kura," Jyonouchi scolded him, although it was obvious he was amused. "What kind of reaction did you expect? Hugs and flowers?"
"No," the thief replied with a smirk. "Besides, we already did the hug thing. And I doubt yadonushi would be happy if I said 'hello' to the mini-pharaoh the same way I did you."
"I wouldn't be happy."
Yuugi had a brief moment to wonder what they were talking about; then he felt his own face heat in embarrassment to match Ryou's. He so didn't want to think about Jyonouchi's sex life.
It would be much later when he would wonder about why Ryou was blushing.
owari