One Year

Chapter 2

The honking of a horn pulls me out of my thoughts and I look up, grinning. Seto waves from the cab of the truck as I picked up the firsts of my boxes and carried it down.

“That all you have, Pup?” Seto’s blue eyes laugh at me. I grin in response.

“Nah… but I don’t have enough to fill up the truck. Why this?”

“Because.” Seto parked the truck and came upstairs with me to help carry my shit. “After this, we’re going shopping. It’s your eighteenth birthday – you should have a special present. So we’ll head wherever you want, and get whatever you want… even a car or a bike.” He leaned over and kissed me, not caring who saw us or what they thought… and I think that was a greater gift than anything he could buy me.

The kiss breaks and he gives me that look I adore so much… when he smiles, it’s sexy… when he smiles with his eyes, I fall in love all over again.

“Get the fuck off my porch!”

I turn to stare at the old man. Dad’s glaring drunkenly, obviously thinking that he can intimidate us. Not likely. “We’re moving, keep your shirt on.”

We grab the last of my stuff and head back to the truck – this shopping trip was gonna be great, but not as great as moving into my new home.

“Come on, Pup – stop woolgathering. We should go before your father decides to call the police or something else equally foolish.”

“Yeah – comin’ Dragon.”

---- ----- ----

One shopping trip and intimate dinner for two later, we’re back at Seto’s house… my house, now, I guess. He’s given me a room of my own, but I have a feeling it’s not gonna do much more than store my stuff. I’d rather be in here, with him.

He’s in the shower as I slide out of my clothes with only mild trembling. Tonight – God, I’m scared and excited all at once. Tonight I make him mine. And I become his. We’ve dated for a full year with nothing more than heavy making out… but I want him with every fibre of my being. It’s like a fire in my guts…and in my groin, every time I look at him.

My imagination paints a picture of Seto in the shower – water rolling over his skin, tracing the lithe muscles, dark hair hanging loose and wild in is eyes and on his shoulders… I fall on the bed with a groan. Just that is enough to make my cock harden and twitch.

Then he steps out of the en-suite in only a towel, still damp… and damn… what a sight. His hair’s slightly mussed, and for once he’s completely relaxed. I don’t know if I should drool or just stalk over there and take a bite – he looks good enough to eat.

I watch with hungry eyes as he slips noiselessly across the room, and I get a view of his back… and I see the scars.

White lines criss-cross his back and shoulders, as though someone had gone after him with a whip. At least one shiny burn scar puckers the line of his shoulder.

“What the… Dragon, what happened to you?” I’m up an over there in a second, wanting to know who’d done this to him. I reach out and he flinches away from my concerned touch.

“Katsuya… I wasn’t expecting you.” His voice is calm, collected , but I can see fear and shame in his eyes.

“I was gonna surprise ya. God, Seto… is this from that ass stepfather o’ yours?”

He winces. “Yes… Gozoboro… he did this to me while I was training.” Calm – too calm; he’s withdrawing behind his walls again. He does that when something makes him uncomfortable.

“Come here.” I murmur, tugging at his arm and all but dragging him to the bed, pulling him down beside me. “Tell me.”

“There’s nothing to tell. He would beat me if I fell asleep during lessons, or when he was testing me and I got a question wrong.”

He’s stiff as a board in my arms… unyielding. “Details, Dragon. I want to know.”

“It’s… nothing, Pup.”

I frown as I reach out to run a hand over his side and he flinches again. Damn Gozoboro anyway. I never knew what a shield his clothes were for my Dragon. “Hey… it’s okay. I’m not gonna hurt ya.” I murmur in his ear, keeping my voice gentle and unassuming. “I just wanna touch ya.”

He shivers. “Go ahead, Pup. It… doesn’t matter.”

“Whaddya mean?”

“I…” he takes a deep breath. “I…” Another deep breath, and he rolls over to face me, eyes and face cold and serene as a mountain lake. “I have something to tell you, Jounouchi.”

I blink, just staring at him. It’s like he’s taken his emotions and sealed them away, leaving an artificial calm that’s nearly machinelike. It’s spooky. “What is it, Dragon? You can tell me anythin’, you know that.”

“I am afraid that I told you one thing that was a lie, Jounouchi. I told you that we would be able to consummate our relationship tonight… but I’m afraid that won’t be possible. I… despite ongoing therapy, I am… unable to perform. I had hoped to have that problem solved by this point…”

He continues on, in a brisk, businesslike voice, for all the world like he’s explaining the delay of a new product to his board of directors.

I kiss him, cutting off the ramble, which has become meaningless to me anyway. “Seto – shut up and listen to me. You’re scarin’ me.” I look into blank blue eyes. “Come back ta me, dragon… don’t withdraw. Don’t run away from me. Ya know I love ya and nothing like this is gonna change that. Seto? Come back to me.”

“Jounouchi…” A flicker, dark shadows of remembered pain, dance in his eyes. “I’m fine. I’m not running away.”

“Bullshit. Talk to me, damnit. This is a reaction to trauma… I’ve seen it enough times on the streets, from women and men who have been raped…” I hear myself say the words before I fully realize what they mean.

Oh. My. God. Someone had…my proud, beautiful dragon. My jaw clenches against overwhelming rage.

They’re going to wish they had never been born.

“Who did it?” I ask, gently, burying my anger. Whoever touched my dragon is going die. Painfully. “You were raped, weren’t ya, Dragon? Who did it?”

It’s like – watching a mirror shatter. His eyes grow huge as he pulls back from me, and he just… crumples. “How?” he murmurs “How did you know?” He’s shaking now as the walls of ice crash down, and all that pent up emotion is freed. Shame and hate, fear and more shame, in his face and his body, the way he’s trying to curl up; he’s shaking like a leaf, like the wind… God, Seto; I swear I’ll destroy whoever did this to you.

“I’ve seen it enough times, Dragon.” He flinches away from me, trying to get away. “It’s nothin’ to be ashamed of… you were the victim, ne? It’s not your fault. Fuck – no one would ever guess if they didn’t know you as well as I do, and didn’t know the signs.”

“I’m weak…” he murmurs, almost too quiet for me too hear. “He’s right… weak and foolish…”

“Ya ain’t weak, Dragon.” I take his face in my hands and kiss the tears away. “Tell me… tell me what happened… I’m not gonna hate ya; I love ya, more than I can ever say; let me prove it to ya.”

He obviously decided that it couldn’t get any worse… when he speaks, his voice is a monotone that belies the tears still flowing down his face. “I was 14. Gozoboro had decided it was time for me to become a man… he took me to a high-class bordello in Holland. He had the woman tested and everything… she didn’t even speak Japanese. I think he went so far just so that he and I wouldn’t be recognized. We… He took me in and sat in the corner while she undressed and attempted to seduce me. But…I was only 14, and Gozoboro’s presence… I couldn’t perform. I couldn’t even get hard.”

He’s turned away from me again, and I let him, if it’ll help him get it out. But I’m not letting him forget I’m here, either. My arms slide around him, stroking his bare chest soothingly, as I nuzzle his hair. Then I shift position a bit and move one hand up into his hair, rubbing the scalp; it’s a trick I discovered by accident, and it always relaxes him. His muscles slowly unlock, one by one, and his eyes start to droop, though his voice never falters. “He dismissed the woman and tied me to the bed. Then he took a knife and sodomized me, calling me a fag and a weakling. He said that if I was going to be a faggot, then he would make sure I knew what it was like to be someone’s bitch. Then… he raped me.”

“Oh Seto.” I didn’t let pity into my tone – he would hate me for that. “You’re not weak, and there’s nothing wrong with being gay.”

“Since then… I can’t perform. My mind is attracted, but my body – it just won’t respond. Every time I think about having sex with someone… I see him, over me, raping me. Even though he’s dead… I can still see his face.” He shakes again, a full body tremor; I kiss him gently on the cheek, nuzzling his ear. “My therapist says I need special therapy… to go on a retreat, but I don’t have the time for that.”

“Ya need to make time, Seto.” I turn him so he’s on his back, shifting up to nuzzle his hair. “Ya can’t let this continue to rule ya.” My hands are still running over his chest and stomach, the skin so pale and cold, like ice. “Let me try? We’ll see if a little TLC can do what the head shrinks can’t… let me try and melt the ice, Seto.”

He’s looking at me with something like wonder in his eyes. “You don’t hate me?”

“No… never… I could never hate ya, Seto. I love ya so much. I don’t want to see ya hurting or unhappy. And ya know somethin’? Even if this doesn’t work, even if we can never be together that way, I will still love ya.”

“But…”

“Shh. Let me try, dragon. I wanna hear you roar for me, I wanna see you let all your inhibitions go.”
“Katsuya…” I lean forward and kiss him, silencing him as I slide inside his mouth, teasing and caressing it. He always tastes so wonderful… like spearmint and jelly, cool and soothing. I can’t get enough; but I keep it gentle, questing rather than demanding. It’ll just throw him back into the night of his rape if anything like force is used.

I can feel him relaxing into the kiss – familiar territory. I move my hands over his body slowly, taking the time to explore the planes and angles of his torso. He’s formed so well… slender and muscular. Even the scars don’t detract from his beauty, in my eyes… they’re more like an emphasis, and a mute testament to how strong he really is. My Dragon. I am going to give you back your wings and teach you how to fly.

------ ------- ------- ------

I tense as I feel Jou’s hands on my body – I don’t want to go through with this, because I’m terrified that he won’t love me anymore. And every time I feel a spike of fear, I hear Gozoboro’s voice mocking my weakness and the sting of that damned whip on my flesh.

I hate him. I wish I could break free of his legacy, but it’s hard when every time I look around, I see him. Maybe Mokuba’s right – I should sell the house…

Jou’s hands slide over my nipples; I gasp as an entirely new and strange sensation passes through me, derailing my thoughts. He places a kiss on my shoulder and does it again, this time running just his thumb over it. It’s a strange, not unpleasant sensation – I can feel my body wanting to squirm, but retain my control. “Puppy…”

“Shh… it’s okay, Dragon. Stop fighting me.” Jou’s lips move along my shoulder and up to my neck – I shiver slightly, feeling myself starting to relax, almost against my will. A strange tingling runs along my skin.

“…fucking little fag… can’t get it up for a woman, I’ll teach you what it’s like to be someone’s bitch…” I tense as Gozoboro’s voice echoes in my ears, hate and disgust dripping from his words.

“Dragon… Seto. Do you trust me?” Jou whispers as his hands move in random patterns now.

“Puppy…”

“Just answer the question, Lover. Do you trust me?”

I pause, thinking – I owe Jou an honest answer, after all. Do I? I know I love Jou – love him with a passion I hadn’t thought I was capable of. But do I really, honestly trust him? Do I know that he’ll never hurt me the way everyone but Mokuba has in the past?

No… but then, isn’t that what trust is? Not knowing… and doing it anyway?

“Yes… I trust you, Katsuya.”

“Good.” Jou actually purrs the word, then leans over and kisses my shoulder. “Close your eyes – and keep them closed.”

“Pup…”

“Please?”

I feel my body tense… my brain trusts him, but the facts aren’t getting through to my gut. “Alright.” I close my eyes, feeling his body move so that he is lower behind me. Gentle fingers touch me in my most intimate spot; I tense more, fighting back the urge to move away.

“Relax, Dragon. It’s not gonna hurt… I just want to see.” Warm fingers weave through my hair again, massaging my scalp. My body relaxes a bit, my eyes drifting half-closed. I can’t help it… it just always feels so good, the one thing that gets past all my defences. I barely even feel his fingers now as they move over my body; I’m drifting almost to sleep… I twitch as he touches the top of my ass, where the back joins the hips, but that’s all.

Until something cool and wet touches me there. A jolt, like an electric shock, but of pleasure rather than pain, lashes through me; I can’t help the moan that escapes from my throat. “Jou…”

“Feel good Dragon?” His fingers slip from my hair, and I can feel him shifting again. He grasps my hips and I feel warm breath on my skin before he starts probing that spot with his tongue.

“Yes…” The sound escapes as a hiss. My hands clench at the sheets as I try fruitlessly to hold on to my control. Gozoboro’s voice echoes in my head still, but for some reason it doesn’t matter – my body is twitching madly now. “Pup…”

He lifts my leg slightly, wet fingers probing my sac. The light touches aren’t threatening… in fact; they’re shredding the last of my self-control. But somehow, my manhood still is barely responding… despite how good this feels. Damnit… what is WRONG with me?

“Seto – Dragon – stop fighting it.” Katsuya’s voice is soft. “You’re fighting me… fighting yourself. Some things you have to go through to beat… stop fighting it…” Then his tongue actually licks across my anus. “Let go… let it go…” Warm fingers wrap around my manhood and pump gently.

Let go? How can I? It’s all I can do to just stay focussed. I can’t lose my control… I can’t…

“Oh GODS!” Pleasure rachets through my brain, my hips jerking of their own accord. I open my eyes and look down to see that Jou’s taken my manhood in his mouth, licking and sucking with every sign of enjoyment. His tongue flicks over the tip of it and my brain short-circuits.

It feels strange – and so good, like my skin’s too tight and tingling all over. My hard-won control is shot to hell and I don’t care. I want to drown in the sensation. I want to shove my cock down his throat. But most of all I don’t want him to stop. One hand clenches in his hair as he sucks – he’s holding my hips now, preventing them from moving, and somehow that just makes it better.

Then he stops and pulls back. I can hear whimpering – it’s coming from me as I try and push myself back into his mouth.

“Nuh-uh Dragon. You like it? Do you want me to keep going?” He can’t be serious. My brain is melting out through my ears and he wants me to talk?

“Don’t… stop… please…” I’m begging, and I don’t care. It feels good – nothing like when Gozoboro raped me. “More…”

That hot mouth surrounds me again and I groan. I barely feel the fingers – until he slides one inside me…

I scream, body clenching down, eyes wide. Nononononono…

“Easy Dragon…” Jou croons, his free hand stroking my belly. I barely hear him… all I hear is Gozoboro mocking me, hurting me…

---- ------ -----

“You can do this… for me, Lover – and for yourself. You’re strong enough, Dragon…” I don’t know if it’s working – those are tears pooling in the corners of his blue eyes. But he can do this… I know he can, but he might not be ready. Still – I know Seto. Running isn’t his style – it’s not how his mind works. His body writhes under me, fighting, still fighting… I move that finger slowly, in and out. I hate to do this to him, but otherwise he’ll be a prisoner of this forever. I reach up and run my fingers through his hair – his eyes are wide and unseeing, sweat covering his skin. “It’s okay, Seto – I’m here… I’m here… shhh… don’t cry lover, please…” Time passes as he tosses and shivers, working through the nightmare of his past.

“Katsuya...” The sound is whispered, desperate and longing. I look into his eyes and see the pain giving way, the ice melting into a raging, burning flame. He makes a sound like a growl as he meets my gaze and suddenly I’m on my back, with a dragon trying his level best to eat me alive.

Oh God… this is more than I expected… and I don’t know if I should be happy or terrified. “Seto…” I moan as he attacks my nipples, finding all my sensitive spots with is hands and tongue, claiming me… oh God… yes…

He licks at the dimple of my navel and I writhe, looking down at him – his hair is tousled, eyes burning with desire. He looks wild, feral. “My Puppy.”

“Yeah… oh shit… Dragon…” He’s got me in his mouth now and he’s sucking with all the skill of a pro. Where the hell did he learn to… “Ahh! God… Seto!” White spots float in front of my eyes as he manages to deep-throat me.

He gags a little and pulls back, pausing for what seems like an eternity, breathing harshly and studying my cock as though it were a computer problem. “Se~to… you don’t just stop like that!” I whine, my cock twitching.

Without a word he takes a breath and engulfs me again. “Oh fuck…” He must have been working something out in that head of his, because he’s sucking me down his throat without a qualm. I can feel my balls tighten up against my body as the mind-blowing pleasure starts to peak. “Shit… Seto – I’m gonna…”

He stops, just as I’m about to lose it. “No you don’t, Pup.” He’s breathing heavily now, and the feral look his fading from his eyes and body. “You’ve done this before, right?”

“Yeah…”

He nods. “Then you take me first.” He rolls over beside me, legs akimbo. I know I must be staring – but he’s more than worth staring at; his perfectly formed body, muscles sliding under taunt, normally pale skin now flushed with excitement, cock hard and dripping precum. The thought of seeing him writhing under me as I take him is enough to make my cock thrum in anticipation.

“Seto – are you sure?”

“Yes… I trust you, Pup – and I’ve never done this before, so I don’t want to hurt you. There is lubrication in the nightstand.” I blink a couple times; his eyes go strange, soft and almost sad. “Show me, Katsuya… show me how to love you and be loved by you. Please?”

“Alright, Dragon.” I kiss him gently, tenderly – I know how much it cost him in pride to admit that, even to me. “Lay back – I’ll be gentle, I promise.” I lean over him, reaching for the nightstand.

“Pup?”

“Yes, Dragon?”

“I love you.”

I smile at him, nuzzling his chest as I go by. “I know, Dragon. I love you too.”
The lube is mint scented - how perfect for him. I pour it on my fingers, letting the cool liquid warm up before sliding my finger inside. He moaned, half in pain. My hands play over his inner thighs for a bit, soothing him, before moving it in and out a few times. “Relax Dragon. I’m gonna do my best not ta hurt ya, but ya gotta relax.”

He takes a deep breath, jaw clenching, then lets it out, forcing his body to go limp. “That’s better.” I slide up to his manhood and stroke gently, hoping to distract him from the pain as I wiggle the second finger inside him.

“Jou…” God – he’s so sexy, laying back, all his defences down, moaning as the pleasure starts to overtake him. Absently I wonder if he’s ever had an orgasm, but this isn’t the time to ask… he’s gonna have one pretty soon. I scissor my fingers, watching for any reaction of pain.

“More…” His whole body shudders as he relaxes further. There he goes… This is why I love being uke… that moment when you surrender to the pleasure, when the world narrows down to sensation. When you know there’s more out there, but don’t want it to stop.

Of course, watching it and making that happen to someone else is why I love being seme.

“Ready, Dragon?” I murmur, sliding in the third finger. He moans, tensing for a bare moment before relaxing, shifting his hips, trying to get more. I start pumping my fingers in and out, watching the expression on his face. His hands are clawing at the bed, body arching. His head tosses helplessly back and forth, breath escaping in harsh pants. I curl my fingers just slightly, looking for that special spot…

There.

Seto’s whole body stiffens – his eyes widen in shock as he screams, a sound of pure ecstasy that nearly makes me come on the spot. Damn… he’s so hot, so sexy…

I can feel his body getting ready to come, the balls tightening and his cock twitching in my grasp. “Not yet Dragon.” I murmur, pulling out my fingers and releasing him completely at the same time.

He whimpers, pulling his head up to look at me as I lube my cock. “Jou… Pup…”

“I’m here.” It the only time I’ve seen him like this… completely open and honest, not masks or barriers. A flash of hate burns through me at Gozoboro for what he did to my dragon, before I bury myself in that tight, sweet heaven. My Dragon. He’s mine now… and he’ll always be mine. And I am his.

The feeling… it’s more than I expected… more than I dreamed. “Dragon… ya feel so… wonderful.” Not moving is torture, but I have to make sure that I don’t hurt him, that he has time to adjust.

“Ka…tsu…ya…” His hand comes up, fingers entwining with mine, blue eyes glowing. “Beau…ti…ful… Dra…gon…” His head drops and his hips twitch up; my heart clenches at the unconditional love in those eyes, almost crying at the gift he’s giving me… total control, total surrender, total and absolute trust.

I move, pulling out and thrusting back in, feeling him clench and relax in tandem. He’s so beautiful it makes my heart hurt, and he’s giving himself to me. It’s so hard – he’s so tight – to keep it slow, steady, drawing out the pleasure as long as I can. Moving in and out, brushing over his prostate, raising a high-pitched keening sound from him with every touch, every movement, trying to give him more, to give him me.

It so good – too good – I can’t hold out. My body moves faster, wanting more, his hips are moving to meet every thrust. His legs twine around my waist, pulling me impossibly deeper. My lips skin back to bare my teeth as something hot and primal rises up, washing over my mind. Seto’s mine… I dart forward, burying my teeth in the crook of his neck, marking him. His scream fills the air as I grind my cock deep and release, filling him with my seed, feeling his cum hot and sticky as it spurts between our bodies.

The world goes white, then grey around the edges as I fight back the urge to pass out. I’ve never come like that…ever.

“Jou?” His voice is a breathy whisper as I lean up, tasting copper. I blink, licking my lips – blood. My eyes dart to the bite on his neck – deep enough break the skin.

“I’m sorry, Dragon… I didn’t mean…”

Then I’m cut off as I feel sharp teeth burying themselves in my neck… still on the high of my pleasure, the pain spikes through me, overwhelming and twisting into intense bliss as he licks the wound.

“S’okay…” He murmurs against my skin, arms curling around me in a tender, possessive embrace. “Thank… you.” A low rumbling sound – almost like the purr of a giant cat – rumbles from his chest as he drifts to sleep.

I snuggle against his chest, feeling the vibrations with a silly little smile on my face as I join him, our fingers still entwined.

-----One year later -----

The wrecking ball crashed through the walls of Kaiba Mansion in a shower of dust and debris. I hold my lover’s hand, watching the house – and all it’s dark memories – be demolished. We don’t need that eyesore anyway…we have a penthouse condo with more than enough room for the three of us, and Mokuba has his own section of the building set aside for use as a game room. The roof has an indoor garden and pool, and outdoor facilities as well. We’re set for life.

“Mr. Kaiba, Mr. Jounouchi – did you want to discuss the plans for the property?” The company architect gives us both his best smile.

Seto moves up behind me, wrapping an arm around my waist and resting his chin on my shoulder. “Yes, we would. Do you have the plans with you?”

“Of course…” As he turns to dig in his sachel, Seto nuzzles me, nipping at my ear.

“Dragon!”

“What, Pup?”

“We’re in public!” I hiss, trying not the get the other guy’s attention.

“It’s not like I’m doing this…” and he slides a naughty hand down my ass.

“Seto!”

“Or this…” And the hand attached to the arm around my waist reaches for my package. I grab it with my own; I know I’m blushing. And he’s smirking, damn him. “Stop that!”

“Would you prefer I do this?” And he slips his other hand inside my pants, sliding a finger into my ass, forcing me to bite back a moan. “Ahh… Seto… please…”

I’m saved by the man, who pulls out his drawings. Unfortunately, I also have Seto’s finger up my ass, and he’s standing there cool as a cucumber – bad image there, Jou – while I’m trying not to fidget at all. Bastard. Good thing I love him.

“We should take this back to the office.” Seto says smoothly, gesturing for the man to precede us to the limo. “I have a puppy to look after.”

“I’ll get you for this, Seto.” I mock-growl.

“I know.” He slips the finger out, grinning at me, eyes sparkling with mischief. As we walk away – Seto still holding onto me in a one-handed grasp that is both possessive and loving – I glance at the sign on the fence of the one-time centre of Kaiba Corp’s power.

‘Future home of the Domino Treatment Centre for Victims of Sexual Trauma.’ Heh.

I hold my Dragon’s hand tight as we walk together. Take that, Gozoboro, you fucking freak. We won.