Yay, I actually wrote a long chapter this time!!!! Sorry for the short chappies... I promise to make them sorta long from now on, even if it means you'll all have to wait a few days for every update. ducks rotten fruit Hey, you can't have it both ways! Anyway, here come the personal thanks! Oh, and by the way, this chappie is for Assassin of the Shadows, another very faithful and very sweet reviewer! Thanks, Assassin!

Princess Strawberry: Whoo-hoo, she reviewed again!!!! blushes Okay, I won't overreact again... anyway, I'm glad you like the Y/Y fluff; if it weren't for you, there probably wouldn't be very much, so I think you deserve a big thank-you for keeping me on track with regards to this couple! Hope you keep reading, and I'll catch ya later!

daisy: Yeah, it's much better to hug your pets instead of siccing them on your fluff-hating yami... strokes her new pet tiger, Diamond (think Whiteblaze on Ronin Warriors) Some pets were made for siccing, though... but they're still cuddly! Anyway, I hope you enjoy the 'lovey stuff', as you put it, in this chapter; and I'm really glad nuva's getting used to the fluff!!!! flashes daisy and nuva a thumbs-up, Diamond roars in background

Saturn: One word reviews are good, as long as it's a nice word... which it is in this case!!! I'm so glad you think the first part's kawaii, hope you continue reading!

Assassin of the Shadows: This one's for you, hope you like it! Happy to hear you like Bakura's strained attitude; that was just what I was aiming for! Later, Assassin, and I'll do my best on the length issue!

Ranma Higurashi: I'll try my best on both counts, Ranma! Hope you enjoy this chapter!

babygurl: blushes furiously I do all right in English... thanks for spotting that fact, LOL. About the sweet lines thing... I thought the example you gave was a bit awkward, guess it wasn't!

I loved Silent Tears, especially Trinity! Please write more! Aww... you're such a sweet person, babygurl, and you're here for a lot more reasons than to make me feel good about myself! Of course, I don't mind you doing that along the way... but you're destined for greatness, as cliché as that sounds. Know that I'll always be behind you 100% in writing, the same way you've been for me so far; no matter how long it takes me, I'll read and review every single thing you write, or have written! Pinky swear! ^_^ Hope to see you before chappie 13 rolls around! Well, not see you, but ya know...

Lizzie: also drooling Yeah, I know, had to stop to mop up during that part a few times... yeah, so great to hear from a new reviewer! I hope you keep reading and reviewing, and don't worry, Bakura and Ryou are comin' right up!

A big thank-you to all my readers, as always! It means so much to know that others appreciate my work! Warnings... FLUFF once again! By the way, this chappie is mostly Seto/Joey, unlike the others. I figured our main couple deserved a turn in the limelight.

Disclaimer: Did I ever mention that Diamond eats lawyers? tiger purrs In case you missed it the first 11 times... Guardian doesn't own YGO!

Chapter 12: Miss You Much

Seto decided to have the chauffeur drive him to school today, since he didn't trust himself behind the wheel of a vehicle while his thoughts were with his beloved, lying sick in bed. The seat next to his was strangely empty, and in the early morning light, images of Joey's smiling face flashed before the brunet's eyes every time he caught a glimpse of the sun between the buildings of downtown Domino.

Shaking his head, the billionaire took out the history questions he was supposed to be doing last night while he and Joey were out on the lake stargazing and tried to complete it on the ride to school. The questions were obscenely easy, but there was no joy in writing down the empty answers without his golden-haired puppy sitting next to him, copying over his shoulder.

Hey, Set, what'd you get for number 5?

Really? Never heard of that guy before. Maybe I should start paying attention, huh?

What's iambic pentameter anyway? I don't get these weird poems...

With a sigh, Seto threw the still-undone homework back into the aluminum briefcase and slammed it shut. Wake up, Kaiba, he scolded himself. He's not dead or anything. He's just sick for the day. You'll see him in less than eight hours. For now, you've got to concentrate on school. An image of Joey's confused face as he tried to puzzle out a quadratic equation floated up before him, and the brunet rubbed his eyes viciously. Concentrate, damn it!

Before long, the chauffeur stopped the car and opened the door for his employer. Seto slipped a twenty dollar bill into the man's shirt pocket and thanked him. The driver blinked, but took the money and bowed respectfully just the same before getting back into the limousine and driving away. The brunet turned toward the school doors, and saw Joey's friends- their friends now, he liked to think- walking towards him. Yugi looked to be on cloud nine, Ryou was deep in thought, trying to figure out something a lot more complex than last night's homework. Tristan was standing close to Serenity, looking for all the world like some stalwart bodyguard, and the youngest member of their group was craning her neck, searching for her brother. Yami and Bakura, of course, were nowhere to be seen.

"Where's Joey, Seto?" Serenity asked as soon as they were within speaking distance.

"He's resting at my house," the brunet replied. "Seems he's caught a pretty bad cold."

"That sucks." Tristan sighed. "Now who am I going to cheat off of in French today?"

At that, Serenity elbowed him in the ribs, and the tall boy loosed his breath in a rush. "Number one, cheating is wrong," she chided, barely able to keep the smile off her face, "and number two, you don't want my brother's answers on any test, unless you're really determined to flunk."

The entire group shared a laugh at that, and Ryou glanced at his watch. "We'd better get going. Don't want to be late for class."

Yugi slung the left strap of his school bag over his right shoulder without even noticing, looking perfectly ridiculous. Seto noticed for the first time how starry-eyed the boy's gaze was, and snickered despite himself. He might have to start taking notes from Yami on how to make his own love that oblivious to the world around him.

Serenity, compassionate to a fault, smiled sweetly at the shortest member of their group. "Yugi, I believe your backpack is on the wrong way?"

The tricolor haired boy looked at his shoulder unconsciously and adjusted the bag. "So it is. Thanks, Serenity."

"No problem. Now let's get moving." As if on cue, the school bell rang, and the students filed into the building. Seto was just about to start going to class himself when a delicate hand on his shoulder stopped him short.

"I know you probably want to spend some time alone with my brother," the younger girl whispered, so that her 'bodyguard' wouldn't overhear in the background. "Tristan doesn't know yet, in case you're wondering why all the secrecy. Anyhow, would it bother you if I came over for a little while after school?" She winked one soulful brown eye at him. "I promise, I'll be gone by dinnertime."

The brunet nodded once, gravely. "Of course, Serenity. I think Joey would really enjoy your company. Thank you for offering to come see him." Suddenly, the formality of his conversation with Joey's sister struck him, and he spun on one heel to face her. "Is this as awkward for you as it is for me?"

"Probably more," Serenity admitted, "Never thought I'd be talking to my brother's boyfriend... but don't get me wrong, Seto, I really doubt he could do better. I'll talk to you later, okay?" Smiling sagely, she ran off toward the school, but Seto couldn't help feeling that there was more that Joey's sister would have liked to have said.

* * *

If Tristan had anything to say about Seto's sudden assimilation into their group, he kept it to himself, which was just fine with the billionaire. He'd rather not have to ward off incessant questions from one of Joey's friends after the Tea incident. Of course, it helped that everyone else also watched what they said, so as not to let anything slip. For that, Seto was grateful to them. They weren't a bad bunch of people once you got to know them.

After they ate lunch, the group split up; Seto and Serenity opting to walk around and talk things over, Tristan running upstairs to serve a detention that he was already late for, and Yugi and Ryou taking refuge under the largest tree on the school grounds, at Yugi's suggestion. Once they got there, Yami came out from the Puzzle, and Yugi leaned against the tree trunk.

"So, how are things with Bakura?" he asked quietly.

"I don't know," Ryou shrugged, "This morning, it was like he wasn't even Bakura anymore. He actually fixed his own bowl of cereal, then did his own dishes, and even packed my school bag for me! Of course, he didn't do a very good job, but the fact is that he tried, and he didn't even raise his voice at all for last night!" The albino boy sighed. "He keeps me off balance, that's for sure."

Yami and Yugi exchanged glances. "That doesn't sound like Bakura," Yami agreed. "Are you sure he's okay?"

"No, but at least he's not beating up on me." Ryou began chewing on his thumbnail nervously. "I wonder what his plan is, though. Bakura always has a motive for everything." His gaze went from amethyst to ruby eyes. "Don't worry, I will not be lulled into a false sense of security until I know for sure what he's got up his sleeve this time." The bearer of the Ring smiled tragically. "Always something, huh?"

"Yep," Yugi grinned. "If there wasn't, though, our lives wouldn't be very interesting, now would they?"

"Guess not." The white-haired boy looked at his watch. "I have to go do some homework. Keep you guys posted!" With that, he ran off, and Yugi looked up at his yami.

"What do you think is going on?" he asked his darkness.

The pharaoh shook his head, wrapping his arms around his hikari. "I suppose we'll just have to wait and see, aibou, like Ryou himself."

* * *

Seto and Serenity's stroll eventually brought them to the deserted rooftop of the school. The ex-CEO leaned back against the door that led to the stairwell they had just ascended, and his companion slid down to sit on the ground.

"You'll get dirty, sitting there," he warned her with a wink.

"I don't mind," she replied, hugging her knees to her chest. "It's so peaceful up here, don't you think?"

As if to lend credence to her statement, a seagull flew overhead, followed by a breeze from the harbor. Seto inhaled the crisp air, feeling his entire body relax. "It certainly is," he agreed, looking down at the young girl below him. "You and Joey are really close, aren't you? He never stops talking about you."

"He's my best friend," Serenity replied, "and the most important person in my life. I wish I could still be that for him." To the tall boy's surprise, she turned her face away from his as she said the last part.

Without realizing it, Seto stooped down and wrapped one arm around her, azure boring into chocolate. "You are, Serenity. He loves you more than anything in the world. If you knew the half of it..."

"Not more than you," The brunette cut him off, and her voice was the quietest Seto had ever heard it.

"What do you mean?" he asked, confused. Joey's friends had a way of doing that to him.

"He doesn't love me more than you." Serenity clarified. "Not even close. You're his entire world, and it doesn't look like there's even an island left for me anymore." She sniffled, but no tears clouded her eyes. Silently, Seto admired her strength. "I guess that's how it goes, though. Gotta say, I never thought it would happen to me. I thought my brother would always be there for me, just like he said he would. That's a promise for you." Now, one tear streaked across her perfect face, and she swatted it away angrily. "I'm sorry, I never meant to make you feel guilty. Neither of us can do anything. Just forget we ever had this conversation, okay?"

She thinks I'm stealing her brother away from her. She can't take the thought of being anyone's equal for his affections. For one fleeting moment, the bitterness got the better of Seto, and he felt like crushing this girl who dared be jealous of his love for her brother. Reason soon quenched that fire, though, and he rose to his feet. Serenity hugged her knees that much tighter. All things considered, she's just a scared little girl. How can I be angry with her?

"Listen to me," he said, and his tone was far from angry. "Nobody will ever come between you and Joey. There will always be a place reserved his heart for you, the same way that there will always be one for him in yours." He offered her his hand, and Serenity stared up at him. "There's more than enough room for both of us in his life. Even if there wasn't, I wouldn't mind sharing what space there was with you. I know what you mean to each other." Seto smiled softly down at her, a smile that nobody but Joey and Mokuba had ever seen, and the girl took his hand, pulling herself up and dusting her clothes off. Suddenly, she tugged on the lapels of his trench coat and began to sob into his forest green dress shirt. The taller of the two, having become accustomed to crying spells through the time he had spent raising Mokuba, simply stood still, save for the hand that stroked Serenity's hair, until her crying became erratic and shuddering. With a gasping breath, she raised her head, and looked him straight in the eye.

"I can see why he loves you," she stated, "Who could ever call you cold-hearted?"

"I wasn't always this way." The billionaire looked away, and Serenity turned his face back to hers.

"It's not who you were, it's who you are," she said. "You can't hide your light under a bushel forever, can you?" Without waiting for an answer, she leaned up and kissed Seto on the cheek affectionately. "Thanks for listening to me, brother." On that note, she waved good-bye to him and went back into the school building, leaving a stunned Seto to stare at the spot where she had been for a while before following her.

* * *

After school, Seto and Serenity rode the seemingly endless distance to the Kaiba mansion, stopping only to pick up Mokuba along the way. The two younger members of the party hit it off right away, chatting like old friends. Seto, meanwhile, was more than happy to stare out the window, dreaming of his love as he listened to their animated banter.

The moment they got home, Seto leapt up the stairs to the front door two at a time and let himself in. Annie, the chief maid, was vacuuming the foyer as they came in, and she dropped everything to fuss over Serenity. Would Miss Wheeler like something to eat? Perhaps she could take her coat? A tour of the mansion?

Finally, Seto stepped in, taking the maid by the arm gently. "If we need anything, Annie, we won't hesitate to call you. For now, though, we won't take you away from your duties any longer than necessary. We both know this place would have fallen apart long ago if not for your efforts." It was the closest thing that Seto Kaiba had ever given to a compliment, and Annie went back to her work, humming happily, pausing to whisper in Serenity's ear.

"He's been so much more tolerable since your brother came along," she said, "Be sure to thank him on behalf of the entire household staff."

Serenity grinned. "I will." she promised, and followed Seto, who was tapping his foot impatiently at the top of the staircase. Below, Annie's vacuum cleaner could be heard whining once again.

"What did she want to say to you?" he asked once Serenity cleared the staircase.

"Girl stuff," the brunette replied evasively. "Now, which way to Joey?"

* * *

The blond was watching television, slumped against the pillows, when Seto came in. Serenity was waiting outside, since she wanted to surprise her brother, and the brunet sat down on the edge of the bed. Joey immediately shut off the TV and threw his arms around his boyfriend, who more than happily returned the hug.

"I had no idea a day was so long," he said, his voice sounding worse than before. Turning his head away, he coughed softly.

"Are you feeling any better?" Seto laid him back down, settling for holding his hand.

"Sorta." was the reply.

"Well, I think I know just what'll perk you up. Come on in!" The look in Joey's honey-colored eyes when he saw his sister was priceless. With a cry of joy, Serenity dropped her school bag and flew into her brother's arms. Seto sat back, watching the scene.

"Hey, big brother," Serenity said softly, brushing a stray lock of hair back into place on Joey's head.

"Hey, Seren'." With one final squeeze, the blond set her back down on the floor. "You better keep your distance. I don't want you catching this."

"I've had colds before, Joey." the girl laughed, pulling her backpack over and fishing out a few books. "Here's your homework. Try to get something done instead of watching Jerry Springer all day, okay?"

Joey blushed as Seto's rich laugh filled the bedroom, and Serenity took it all in for the first time. "This place is so cool!" she gushed, laughing. Almost immediately, she was all business again. "Now, Joey, have you been taking care of yourself?"

"Yeah..." the blond's tone was unsure, and his sister cocked her head at him, her hands on her hips.

"Really? What have you eaten?" And he thought I was mothering him, Seto thought to himself.

Joey suddenly found the bedspread very interesting. "Nothing." he muttered. "I haven't been hungry."

With a heaving sigh, Serenity took off her jacket, dropping it on the floor to land atop her bag.

"Seto, where's the kitchen? I'll get started on some chicken soup. I trust we won't have to force-feed you?" She grinned through the last statement.

Joey glanced at his love. "Not unless you want to," he said huskily, and now it was Seto's turn to be embarrassed.

"I'll show you to the kitchen, Serenity," he mumbled, and the two of them left Joey for a moment to glance over his homework before deciding to push the entire thing under the bed and forget it existed.

* * *

Serenity kept her word, leaving before Annie called Seto and Mokuba for dinner. The brunet had had his chauffeur take her home, since he didn't want her riding the buses anytime close to sunset. The girl hadn't protested too vehemently.

Joey had managed to eat some of his sister's soup, and Seto had taken his meal with his boyfriend. After dinner, Seto had tried to get the blond started on some schoolwork, but soon realized the futility of his efforts. Joey didn't like doing homework on a good day. How would he feel about it when he wasn't well?

Around 9:00, Joey tried to go to sleep, but every time he lay down, his cough acted up, forcing him to sit up until the fit stopped. After a few rounds of this, Seto bade his love lie back, and disappeared into the bathroom for a moment before returning with a jar of something, the label on which the blond couldn't read from his vantage point.

"Take off your shirt," the brunet said, and Joey did as he asked. Seto unscrewed the top of the jar, scooped a generous amount into his hand, and began to rub it into his boyfriend's bare chest.

The ointment had an amazingly strong smell, and the shorter boy could practically feel it clearing up the tight feeling in his throat. Of course, that could have been Seto's hands, tracing slow circles around his upper body, or the taller boy's sultry smile as he massaged his beloved.

"Vaporub?" Joey asked, "Does this stuff really work?"

"Worth a shot, isn't it?" was the reply. For a heavenly five minutes, Joey relaxed, basking in the feel of Seto's touch. Once every square inch of his love's chest was covered in the white ointment, the billionaire put it away, washed his hands, and climbed back into bed.

"I wouldn't put my shirt back on if I were you," he said, leaning over to kiss Joey languidly before returning to his English assignments. "Get some rest, love. I really don't want to be in school alone for any longer than necessary."

Joey smiled and lay down. Mercifully, his cough was nonexistent. "It's not exactly a picnic here without you, Set."

The boy in question smiled. "Night, puppy."

The blond yawned widely. "Night, Set."

* * *

Okay, I think I made this chappie long enough!! For the record, Serenity is one of my fave characters, so that's why she gets kind of big roles... yeah... Anyways, please review, and I'll be back with Chapter 13 ASAP! Ja ne!

Diamond: purrs again