YD: Just a quick ficlet that jumped into my brain at one in the morning. XD I should stop writing in the morning.

Eternal Rose

Jounouchi fingered the rose in his hand, crying softly. Seto had left him again, like he always did. He would come back, but he'd always leave again. Sometimes Jounouchi would wake up early enough to say goodbye. Most of the time, he couldn't and Seto would leave a note and a rose. Every rose Jounouchi had was cherished. Every note left was read time and time again. Neither item ever replaced the ache in his heart.

He missed Seto again, this morning. He'd even set the alarm to go off with Seto's clock. It seemed Seto had turned it off and didn't wake him. Jounouchi knew Seto loved him. The notes he left and the roses were proof of that. He didn't want a note or a rose. Jounouchi wanted his lover, his husband, his heart.

Jounouchi knew Seto would never stray from him. Every time he came back, it would show. Seto loved him, but he couldn't stay longer than a month at times. Seto was constantly traveling the world, making his business grow. Jounouchi wanted to go with him, but he kept quiet, never complaining.

Small tears continued falling from his broken eyes. He held the rose close to his heart, wishing for Seto to come back. He cried for the fact he couldn't be with Seto, cried for the pain in his heart.

Jounouchi knew he would love Seto forever, even if he kept breaking his heart by leaving time and time again. Seto would probably be in New York by now, opening his new park. Through his musings, he heard a knock on the door. No one ever bothered him here. This was his getaway, his haven. Roses littered the room and had been appropriately dubbed his "Rose Room." The only one who bothered him here was Mokuba.

Wiping away his tears, he called for the person at the door to come in. He turned his back to the door, still trying to contain his tears. He heard Mokuba come in and the door shut, but he came no closer.

"I'm… I'm okay, Mokuba. Don't worry about me." He sniffled a little, trying to curb his emotions. Jounouchi didn't want Mokuba to see him cry. "Just give me five minutes and I'll come play with you, okay, Mokuba?"

"Katsuya…" Jounouchi froze, that familiar voice soothing his soul and condemning it simultaneously. When Seto was here, Jounouchi never showed him his Rose Room. He didn't know what he was afraid of but he never told Seto of this room. It seemed that he had found out anyway.

Jounouchi whimpered slightly, curling in on himself. He heard Seto come closer and felt warm, comforting arms wrap around him. Neither one said anything for a long time. Jounouchi reveled in his lover's familiar warmth while Seto looked around the room.

The notes were all posted in the order Seto had left them. Under each posted note was a rose in a vase. Some were in full bloom, others still closed. While Seto looked around the room, Jounouchi breathed in his lover's scent.

"Why are you back? Your note said you left for New York."

"Bad weather," he whispered, hot breath ghosting over Jounouchi's ear. Indeed it was storming outside. Rain lashed against the bay window. "Katsuya… I'm sorry." Jounouchi's eyes squeezed shut as he tried to block the tears that threatened to overwhelm him. It did not good. He turned around and sobbed in his lover's chest while Seto rubbed his back soothingly.

"Please, please don't leave me again," Jounouchi always did this. No matter how many times he begged, Seto would not stay. He knew he was setting himself up for more heartbreak but he still wanted to try.

"I'm sorry but I still have to go." He said regretfully. Jounouchi's grip on Seto's waist tightened as he continued his soft crying. Seto threaded his fingers through his hair, calming him slightly with the repetitive movements.

Soon, Jounouchi had calmed down and simply snuggled against Seto's chest. He listened to his heart beat steadily, luring him into sleep. He felt so warm, so loved. Vaguely, he felt the Earth shifting underneath him and realized sleepily that Seto was carrying him somewhere.

He felt the cool material of the bed underneath him and sighed. Seto pressed gentle kisses to his lips and forehead. Jounouchi had tangled his hand in Seto's shirt, refusing to let go. But he felt so sleepy. Seto's warmth and kisses lured him into the comforting darkness of sleep.

Seto gazed sadly at his sleeping lover. It pained him to leave again, especially after seeing him break down minutes before. But he had a job as CEO of Kaiba Corporation and had to fulfill it. Sighing morosely, Seto sat down and wrote the second note of the day. Again, he laid a rose with the note attached on the table beside Jounouchi. Gazing at him for a while longer, Seto pressed a soft kiss to his lips and left the room without a sound.

By the time Jounouchi awoke, Seto was already in New York. At first, Jounouchi wondered where he was. Days Seto left were spent in the Rose Room if Mokuba wasn't around. He should've cried himself to sleep amongst the roses. Then he remembered Seto came back. Elation welled up in his heart but came crashing down the moment he saw the rose.

"No…" Jounouchi burst from the covers and ran to Seto's office without reading the note. After affirming that he wasn't there, Jounouchi searched all of Seto's normal spots. He checked the kitchen, living room, and Mokuba's room. Seto was gone.

Trudging back to Seto and his room to wallow in misery, he saw Mokuba waiting for him at the entrance to the room. Mokuba held out Seto's Blue Eyes White Dragon plushie for Jounouchi to take. Pasting a fake smile on, Jounouchi held the plushie in his arms.

"It'll be okay, Jounouchi. Seto always comes back for you, for us. This time will be no different." The fake smile dropped and Jounouchi made an effort to smile for real. Mokuba nodded to him and let him pass.

Once Mokuba closed the door, Jounouchi sat on the bed. He glanced at the note still lying there and felt sick. But he wanted to know what Seto had left for him. Hesitantly, Jounouchi removed the note from the rose.

Katsuya,

It pains me so to leave you like this but I must. There are things I must attend to in New York. I hope to be back before the end of next week. Katsuya, I know you may be mad at me to please, call me so I can hear your voice. You and Mokuba are the only ties to sanity I have left. I love you, Katsuya, and I'm sorry I keep leaving you like this. I don't want to, I never did. I will always love you.

With a thousand kisses,

Seto

Jounouchi felt strangely estranged from his emotions. He had cried his tears and had none left. Still, it didn't stop him from carrying out his little tradition.

The Rose Room had two new roses today. The storm outside had subsided hours ago but it was still overcast. He sat down and stared out the window. The Rose Room provided an excellent view of the backyard's garden.

One glance at the calendar showed a circled date. October 25th. Seto's birthday. Jounouchi sighed heavily, fingering the rose in his hand. If only Seto had stayed today… He supposed the only present he could give was his heart. Yet it wasn't enough. Who wanted a heart that had been broken before? It kept breaking too, as soon as it healed.

The only thing Jounouchi could give was his love. For Seto's birthday, Jounouchi's love was his present. He only hoped it was enough.

Jounouchi pressed his forehead against the cool glass. His breath condensed on the window and Jounouchi wrote a small message. "K x J Forever" Jounouchi sighed and curled up on the seat. It was a good thing he kept a blanket here, just in case.

He would wait. He would wait eternity for Seto to come back, to love him. Because he loved Seto, that much was transparent. It didn't matter what Seto ever did, or how many times his heart broke. He would love Seto until the stars fell from the sky and showered the world in light.

Jounouchi clutched the rose to his heart and dreamed of Seto, always loving, always waiting.

Owari

YD: Rather short but it's okay, right? (desperate)