A Year With You

Jou lay in bed for a long while thinking of what had transpired the night before. Seto had kissed him. He smiled at the thought of the kiss but then frowned slightly. Seto was a mystery and that kiss just added to it. He had bits and pieces but was missing the whole picture. He thought the kiss was great but half way through tears started to roll down Seto’s face and the brunet pulled away, telling him to leave. He wasn’t sure what else to do, so he left. He regretted that decision now but it was too late. “I’m such a dumb ass.” He muttered, covering his face with his pillow. A soft knock came to his door and he groaned peeking at the clock. It was the weekend and it was too early to even pretend to be awake. The door opened and he looked into blue eyes that could only belong to one man. “Can we talk?” He nodded, watching as Seto came over and sat stiffly on the edge of the bed.

Seto sat gathering his thoughts for a long moment, not sure what to say. He wanted more with Jou than the friendship and fake relationship that they had developed, but he was afraid. He was afraid that his dark past would make the blond hate him. He was also afraid of all the baggage and fears he carried. What he was, might make Jou leave him and he wasn‘t sure he could remain alone. “I’m not going to forget about last night.” Jou said after a long moment of silence. “I like you, Seto. I want to explore what we could have because I know that we could be great together.” Seto sighed, letting out a small laugh. He was so at ease with Jou. “I don’t want to forget last night, either. It’s just that…Jou…” He trailed off not sure how to go on. He dropped his head into his hands, trying to sort though the storm of thoughts. “You have a lot of shit left from the past you are still dealing with and you want to take things slow?” He nodded, smiling. Jou understood him in a way few did. “Jou, I have a ton of issues from the past I’m still working though. However, I like you and I want to explore things further with you. I’m just not sure what problems the past may cause in the future. I have a lot of secrets I’m perfectly content on taking to the grave. If we do have a relationship, I might want to tell you, but I fear you may never see me as the same. I don’t want to lose you.”

The last words from Kaiba filled Jou with an odd warmth. He wrapped his arms around the brunet, holding him close. “I don’t want to lose you, either. Seto, there is very little you could tell me that would make me think less of you. Sure, I may think differently of you, but I see you in a different light everyday. Listen, I don’t have the best past either. I mean, I was in an honest to goodness gang. I regret some of the things I did in there but I will never ever regret being there because it helped shape me into the person I am today. I just hope someday, you will see your past in the same light.” Seto suddenly stood facing him with eyes burning with shame and pride. “You don’t hate the person you became Jou, I do.” He stood, gently stroking Seto’s face and placing soft kisses on his lips. “Why? From what I’ve seen, you are a good person. You have very little to be ashamed of.” Seto stood with his mouth opening and closing silently as he groped for something to say. Jou found it rather cute. “We’ll take things slow, Seto. Just don’t ask me to stop kissing you because I’m addicted and I’m never letting go.” With that he pressed his lips to Seto’s in an unyielding yet undemanding kiss.

~~~
Mokuba rubbed his eyes heading to Jou’s room to ask the blond a question. He stopped and rubbed his eyes again to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. He looked and his brother and Jou were still wound in one another’s arms kissing. “Ah man!” He whined and both turned to him. “Hey, um, don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled you two hooked up I’m just bummed I didn’t get the chance to set you up.” He pouted, wondering how he was going to tell Nagi and Shizuka. His brother came over and gently ruffled his hair. “You can plan our first official date.” He glanced at his brother gently scuffing his toes against the carpet. “Really?” Jou nodded and he smiled brightly. “Cool! I have to call Shizuka and Nagi! Oh I have great plans! Don’t worry about a thing!” He skipped off filled with sudden glee.

Jou looked to Seto and draped an arm around his now official boyfriend. “Is it just me or does Mokuba scare you?” Seto let out a short laugh and pulled him into a kiss. “Mokuba always scares me. I guess I’ve just gotten over it.” Jou made a small pleased sound in the back of his throat and kissed the brunet threading his fingers into silken hair and pulling the other closer. He would never get sick of kissing Kaiba.

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Sorry for yet another short chapter. However if you don't have fanfiction out there then you don't understand how hard it is to write really long chapters. I'm honestly getting really sick of every one telling me how short my chapters are. I know they are short and they are that way for a reason. I am trying to get out an idea and I don't want it weighed down by filler crap. I frankly think this story has enough filler as it is so my chapters don't need it too. I really respect the authors that can write really long chapters and still get across exactly what they want with a length to make every one happy. I am not one of those people. My chapters will be as long as I want them to be and if that bothers people then I'm sorry that is just the way I write. I like the way I write and I'm not changing it. So either suck it up and get over it or find a new story. Plus not all my chapters are that short so honestly if you are just going to rag on how short they are then stop reading now. You'll never get to the long chapters if you are having issues with the short ones.

now that my rant is done. Thanks as always to my beta reader Tetsuya. Also thank you to all my lovely reviewers.

Mazu: I really wonder about you. Are you ok dear? Please don't hurt yourself for that would make me very sad. So good luck and be careful.

melodyz07:Yeah jou is badass.I'm glad you liked that little moment. And yes they kissed. Now who knows what else they might do. Thanks for the review I always look forward to them. Till next time then.

yaoirose: I'm glad you are still liking the story. Thanks for the review and I hope you liked this chapter as well.

Callidius: Yeah for the kiss!!!! Boo for me being a jerk to Seto....meh he so aked for it. *Seto*: DID NOT! Thanks for the review hon. I always look forward to what you have to say because they put a little sunshine in my day.

pixies: Don't worry i don't have plans on stopping until i finish. But then again I never really plan on stopping until i finish and sometimes that doesn't always work out so we'll see.Thanks for the review.

Margaux: Wow I'm touched. I'm glad that you like my Seto and Jou. I tried to make them how I see them. I think a lot of character is based on perception and so it's hard to appeal to everyone. However I thought a lot about this story and how Seto and Jou should act so I'm glad to hear they turned out well. Please continue to read and welcome to the wonderful world of Yaoi. I hope you like the Seto x Jou pairing because it is my personal favorite but there are other good ones out there. so have fun, enjoy and live well. Thanks for the review it meant a lot to hear you say what you did.