Ramune

Written by: Rain (Gutterangel)

Rated: R (or M but I think the new rating system is stupid)

Genre: Romance x Drama

Warnings: Yaoi, citrus, language.

Pairings: Seto x Jou, Seto x Honda

Notes: I've gotten into Seto x Honda, but I don't know how it started. Honda's actually a really spiffy character when you think about it. He's always there for his friends and he's pretty down to earth. Why people bash him is beyond me (though, they could have tried harder on his hair…)

Anyways, Ramune, in case you didn't know, is a kind of soda where a marble is pushed down into a cradle at the top of the bottle to open it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-gi-oh. What else is new? I also don't own Ramune though it tastes REALLY REALLY good and the marble jingle all fun like! Hehe

x-x-x

Chapter One: Envy

It was a Thursday when Hiroto Honda found out his best friend was dating billionaire, Seto Kaiba. He congratulated his friend and put a smile on, saying, "Good for you, Man!" They ended up having a sleepover, the main topic on Jounouchi Katsuya's tongue being nothing else but Seto. Honda acted like he didn't mind; keeping his grin on his face until Jou was fast asleep.

That was less than a month ago.

Honda had his hands in his pockets, strolling down the sidewalk of Domino City. His jacket was keeping him warm from the autumn chill that was growing more and more by the day. He turned the corner and walked up the steps to Jou's apartment. He knocked on the door and waited with an uneasy look in his eye.

Shizuka opened the door, "Oh. Hi Honda." She said, blushing lightly, "How are you?"

Honda nodded politely, "I'm fine. Is your brother ready?"

"I think so." She looked nervous, twirling her hair, "Let me get him. Come inside. It's freezing out there."

Honda nodded again, stepping into the home, "Thanks." He watched her leave, calling out her brother's name.

Jou had a hair elastic in his mouth when he approached his friend. He smiled and pulled his messy hair into a nub at the back of his head, "Hey Man." He pounded fists with Honda.

Honda smiled, "I didn't know Shizuka was visiting. You should tell me these things, Dude."

"Sorry. It was sort of a surprise. I promise I'll tell you next time." He grabbed his jacket and beamed, "Man, it was the coolest! I saw Seto last night and he took me out to dinner. It was so sweet!" he tugged on his shoes, "Bye Sis!"

"See you later, Jou! Bye Honda!" a voice called from down the hallway.

Honda smiled sadly, "That's great, Man. I'm happy you two are doing so well."

"Yea, it's great, huh? I finally feel like I belong somewhere, ya know?" Jou locked the door behind him, walking out into the fall weather, "Geez its cold!

"Tell me about it, Man." Honda said, walking down the steps, "What do you want to do today?"

Jou shrugged, "I don't know. I guess the arcade. Seto and I are going out again tonight and I asked him to pick me up at about five. Is that cool?"

"Fine." Honda shrugged, "Is he picking you up at home?"

"I'll call him at five and tell him where I am. He said to dress casually so I think I'm good the way I am right now."

Honda laughed, "Except for that midget ponytail. What is with that, Dude?"

Jou blushed a little bit, nudging Honda, "Shut up! Seto said my hair gets in the way of my face."

"Oh. Of course. We can't disappoint Kaiba." Honda said, rolling his eyes.

"Shut up!" Jou snapped, pushing his friend to the side. He shared the laughter with his friend. Nothing could bring him down. He had a best friend, a boyfriend, and a whole weekend with nothing to do but dream off in La La Land.

"You should get a girlfriend, Honda. I don't mind you datin' Shizuka. Just get out there, Man!"

Honda kept his eyes focused on the sidewalk in front of them. He couldn't look Jou in the eyes very often anymore. If he did, Jou would find out the secret that's been floating inside of Honda's body for quite some time now. As long as he's happy, he never has to know. Honda told himself in the mirror every morning; it was like a mantra whenever he could take the stress anymore.

If he didn't do that every so often, Honda doubted he would stay Jou's best friend for much longer.

x-x-x

"Are you thinking about something else, Honda? That's the third time I've beat you!" Jou elbowed his friend, laughing loudly as they restarted the game.

Honda gave a weak laugh, "I guess I just got my head in the clouds. Sorry, Man!" he bit his lip, pressing the button to start his player.

"You know I have most of these games. Why don't you just play at my house instead of wasting your money here?" a voice came from behind them. Seto Kaiba stood with his arms crossed and an amused grin spreading onto his lips. Honda's game character exploded.

"Set-kun!" Jou cried, running into the arms of his brunet boyfriend. He smiled and placed a kiss on Seto's cheek; no shame written on his face.

Honda watched with a blank expression in his eyes. His fists clenched but no bitter words were said. He watched Seto embrace his best friend and swallowed hard. There he was. The object of his desires was being fond to another man. Honda couldn't handle it much longer. I need to get out of here.

Seto looked over Jou's golden hair and locked eyes with the disgruntled teen. He nods at him in acknowledgment and pulls Jou away from him, "Are you ready to go?"

Jou nodded, grabbing Seto's hand, "Uh huh! I'm starvin'!"

The billionaire smirked at Honda, "Do you want a ride home?"

"I don't want to be in the way." Honda said quickly, putting his hands in his pocket. He started to walk out, waving over his shoulder, "I'll see you later, Jou."

"Later Honda." Jou called back, still tightly gripping Seto's hand. He frowned and thought aloud, "That's weird. He's acting all flaky." He shrugged, "All well. Let's go, okay?"

Seto nodded, his lips making the closest thing to a smile he's ever been able to do. The couple walked out of the arcade and into the city. The wind played with Seto hair as he looked up at the sun setting sky. He looked down the sidewalk Honda had taken back to his home, staring at the blur of people that was now traveling on it.

"Set-kun?" Jou asked, poking his head out of the car, "What's wrong?"

Shaking his head, Seto prepared to get into the car. He gave one last glance at the walkway before sitting in the driver's seat. He put the key into the ignition, "It's nothing."

x-x-x

Honda leaned over his porcelain sink; his knuckles turning white from gripping the edges so harshly. His breath raged and his skin was the color of sour milk.

"Hiroto? Are you alright in there?" his mother asked, knocking on the bathroom door with concern in her tired voice.

Honda blinked a couple times, water droplets sliding down his face and into the sink below. He locked eyes with his reflection and said, "Don't worry, Mom." He continued to stare at his tired mirror image. Sighing, he looked back down into the sink. He took a deep breath and said softly, "I'm fine."

"Are you sure? You don't sound so well." His mother replied, turning the doorknob, "Let me in. I want to see."

No you don't. Honda said, splashing some more cold water onto his face, "I'll be okay. Go to sleep. You have work in the morning." He wiped his face with the towel and continued to watch his reflected self.

Soft footsteps signaled his mother's departure. Slowly, Honda put the towel down into the sink and sighed, slapping himself across the face, Wake up Hiroto! He said to himself.

Slowly, he sneered, seeing the red stinging his face. With a scowl, he said, "You're so ugly. No wonder he doesn't want you." He turned his chin up and examined his own face. Disgust made his eyes dull and his blood boil, "You're so… horrible. Look at you…" he rubbed his cheek, "that will probably bruise." He gave a short laugh, "Oh yea. That's a great way to win someone over… play the victim to a tragic life you don't even have. You're so low, Hiroto." He said this all quietly, just enough for himself to hear, "You're scum." He forced himself to not start screaming, wishing his parents weren't home so he could tear himself apart.

"Tomorrow's another day." Honda said bitterly, his body backing into the tiled wall, "I have to keep smiling tomorrow, the next day, next week…" Honda gripped his dark hair and slid down to the floor in a desperate attempt to make himself disappear, "Forever." He looked up at the crackled ceiling and took a few deep breaths.

He didn't remember when the whole thing had started. It had to be at least months ago, back at school. He would be there with Yugi and everybody, sitting in class, poking Jou in the head when he had fallen asleep. Though, class was never interesting and he would always let his eyes wander away from the blackboard. He would put his head down, expertly making it look like he had to look at the back of the room. He would smile to himself, seeing Seto Kaiba reading from whatever he was working on at the time. It always amused him to watch the young teen work on something new everyday. Doesn't he ever have real fun? He would ask himself, seeing Seto get frustrated and scratch something out with his pen. He would sigh and roll his eyes before starting again. Honda would try his best not to laugh.

School really is the breeding ground for young love. Honda told himself, getting up off the bathroom floor. He sighed and made sure he looked unsuspicious to his mother before opening the door. He slumped to his room and collapsed onto his bed before he heard his door close behind him. Though, however many times the scenery changes, the subject on Honda's mind never seemed to shift. Seto Kaiba was embedded into him and Honda had no idea how to get him out.

"I wonder if he's still out with Jou right now." Honda said softly, turning on his side to peek at the clock on his dresser. It was only ten after nine. Seto and Jou were probably over at Seto's house by now. Honda swallowed hard. He knew his friend thought Seto was everything in life. "Of course he'd do it with him…it's Seto Kaiba."

Honda rolled over again; staring at the ceiling like it was his favorite thing to do in the world. He bit his lip; I bet it's heavenly… Honda thought, committing a sin like that with Kaiba. Honda imagined the billionaire's room that he had yet to see. The place would be glowing with vanilla candles and the sheets would be black satin. The perfect contrast. Honda smiled. The two of them would have an endless connection at the lips, running their hands all over sweaty skin. It would be a desperate plead for each other's touch, moaning as a signal for "Give me more." Seto would look down at his prey. His eyes would be the blend of fire and winter; melting to let his lover see the truth of pure passion, but never loosing that shade of a clear lake.

Honda shook his head, hugging one of his pillows close to his body. He buried his head into the feathered bundle, wishing it would all go away. He didn't want to think about it. He wanted Seto to be his first. He wanted to be Seto's first. Though, he knew it would never come true. By the way Jou keeps talking, Honda doubts he will ever be with Seto. Not even in a million years.

x-x-x

Chapter one of Ramune is complete. Don't worry, I promise not to just focus all my attention on this fic. There will be updates of everything else soon! So, tell me what you think of this. I don't see very many Honda fics out there, and I wanted to do something different without straying off to another anime or something. (Though I do like Final Fantasy VIII.) Thanks!