A Year With You

Jou was never so happy to call in for school in his life. Seto didn’t get to sleep till six in the morning. Mokuba had come in around three and snuggled with them watching movies. He was dead tired. He dialed the school making sure they got marked as absent. He lied and said there was an emergency at Kaiba Corp so he and Mokuba went to help Seto fix it. The school asked why Seto wasn’t on the phone and he said it was because Seto had just gotten some sleep and he didn’t want to wake the brunet. If they needed verification they could call Seto’s secretary. They had left a note for Chisa and he knew the lady would tell the school what they wanted to hear. He then called his sister. “Hay nii-san, what’s up?” He smiled at the happy voice and sighed. “Hay imoto. I was up all night with Seto helping him deal with some stuff. I already called the school but would you mind telling the others why we are not in today? Oh, Mokuba wants you and Nagi over after school so you can all work on homework together. Can you track down Yugi and make sure he gets my homework and that some one gets Seto’s homework as well?” He felt a bit like an ass pinning all this on his little sister but he was so tired he could hardly think. “Will do! Hay Katsuya take good care of him. Also get some sleep you sound tired. Love you Nii-san, bye!” He smiled shaking his head. “Love ya too, Shizu-chan. I’ll see you this afternoon bye.” He hung up and dragged himself back to Seto’s room and flopped into the bed. Seto rolled over and he smiled at his lover. Blue eyes peered at him then Seto pulled him close snuggling into him. Jou sighed in contentment and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

Yugi looked around for Jou and frowned when he didn’t spot any of the current residence of the Kaiba house. Shizuka skipped over and smiled brightly at him. “Hay Yugi, Jou and Seto and Mokuba had some emergency at Kaiba Corp last night so they were up all night and are staying home. Jou wants to know if you can pick up his homework and maybe possibly Seto’s. If you just want to give it to me after school that would be great! Nagi and I are going over there because Mokuba wants some company. I’m sure if you call Jou, he’ll have you and the others over as well! He was just really out of it when he called me this morning.” He nodded at the bubbly girl and smiled happy to know that his friend was ok. “Do you know what happened?” Shizuka shook her head. Yugi nodded. “Don’t worry; I’ll get homework of Seto and Jou. I’ll see you after school then.” Shizuka nodded and skipped off. Yugi shook his head deciding to head over to Kaiba’s place after school to check on Jou.

~~~
Seto woke and glanced at his clock. It was noon. He sighed deeply not sure that he wanted to get up. He looked at Mokuba who was still sound asleep and smiled. He knew his little brother could sleep all day if he let him. He then looked to Jou who seemed rather content in using him as a pillow. He smiled at the dog ears and tail that managed to remain on the whole night. He kissed the top of Jou’s head deciding he should head down stairs and make lunch. He gently lifted his puppy off of him and slowly got off the bed so as not to wake the two current occupants. He headed down the stairs and into the kitchen. “Hay Seto.” Chisa’s voice made him jump and the lady silently chuckled into her coffee cup. “Kentaro thought you might need lunch.” His sectary gently motioned to the bag on the counter and he nodded digging though it. “So your school called me. Apparently there was an emergency at Kaiba Corp. I made something up since I didn’t know what they were talking about. However, the night guard did say he saw you, your brother, and…um…Jou last night around eleven. You also had two people come later around midnight. So, do you care to tell me what really happened?” He sighed turning to one of his few long time friends. He was able to tell two people he didn’t trust about his past so he should have no problem telling some one he did trust. Chisa had been his sectary and friend for years. “I was at Kaiba Corp last night. The two that came later are doing a job for me. I need them to find some video tapes for me.” The lady across from him rose a slender arched brow. “My stepfather used to rape me and apparently he used to tape it. That is what is on those tapes and that is why I need them found.” His body was trembling and his knees felt weak. Mokuba knew so he was just confirming when he told his brother. As for the last two times he had told others, someone bad been holding his hand silently supporting him. It was hard to say things out loud especially when you were alone. Chisa stood and pulled Seto to her where he broke down crying. Seto knew he was safe. Chisa was his friend and in some ways they loved one another as siblings. It was the first time since he talked to Mokuba that he was able to cry.

Chisa had known Seto for a long time and she was one of a few people that could call him by his first name and not be glared at or fired on the spot. She knew he had a past. She had heard rumors and met what was once the Big 5. She had seen a frightened young boy become a strong young man. He had given her a chance when no one else would. He was her hero and it pained her to the deepest level of her soul to find how truly broken and child like he was. “That’s right, Seto let it all out.” She whispered gently rocking him. “You’ve been holding this in for a long, long, long time. Just let it all out.” Seto started to sink to his knees so she slowly supported him and sat on the floor holding him while he cried like a child in her arms.

Jou headed down the stairs as his stomach rumbled loudly. He headed to the kitchen and threw open the door only to freeze dead in his tracks. His lover’s uncontrolled sobs tore at his heart and soul. He spotted Seto and his sectary on the floor and the lady held a slender finger up to plump lips. He nodded and stood a little unsure of what to do. It was clear Seto needed this and he was glad his lover found a person to cry on. He just wished he was that person and not Seto’s sectary.

~~~
Seto had no idea how long he sat on the floor crying into his sectary’s shoulder. He sat up slowly shaking slightly. He felt more relaxed and freer than he had felt in a long time. He had just released close to ten years of bottled up emotion. He had cried for his parents, Mokuba, Jou, but most of all he had cried for himself. He looked around blinking. Mokuba and Jou were asleep on the island. Chisa was leaned against the counter clearly asleep. He realized he must have fallen asleep as well. He glanced at the clock and it was well past two in the after noon. So he had cried for at least an hour and maybe slept for another hour. “How are you feeling?” He looked up at Kentaro who silently held out a glass of water. He nodded drinking deeply. “Chisa told me everything. I hope you don’t mind.” He shook his head and the man smiled at him with a perfect white smile. “I’m going to stick around and make dinner since Jou and Mokuba polished off lunch. Don’t worry about the restaurant I have some one covering it. Any thing else I can get you?” He shook his head then held out a hand for some help up. Strong hands grabbed him and pulled him up with ease. He felt his knees wobble but managed to stabilize himself. “Thank you, Kentaro.” The man nodded and flashed him another smile. “Don’t worry about it, Seto. Go take a shower and get so you feel more human. I’ll wake up the others.” He nodded silently heading up the stairs after giving his puppy and his brother a soft kiss.

Jou blinked and sat up just as he saw Seto retreat. He frowned wondering why his lover didn’t wake him. “Ah, Jou, I’m glad you’re awake.” He blinked at the man before him and smiled at Kentaro. “Hay, what’s up?” The other smiled and gave a small shrug that sent muscles rippling. Jou sighed deeply looking after Seto. “I told him to go shower. He did stop and kiss you so don’t feel bad.” The man knelt waking his wife who blinked and sat up. The phone rang and he swiftly grabbed it. “Hi Nii-san! Are you ready for us to come over?” He smiled at his sister’s voice and shot a look a Chisa. “Hay Shizu-chan, can you do me a huge favor and swing by your house on the way here and grab some cloths for a friend of mine?” He heard his sister ask some one something. “Sure thing, Jou. So, the whole gang is coming over. I hope you don’t mind.” Jou thought it over for a second then shook his head. “No, I don’t think it’s a big deal. Tomorrow is the weekend and Seto needs a little hang out time. Don’t worry about dinner we’ll have it here.”

“Kay! See you in a bit!” He hung up the phone and sighed running a hand though his hair. “Kentaro do you think you can make dinner enough for…” He paused counting on his fingers. “Thirteen or fourteen?” The man nodded smiling. “Sure Seto’s kitchen is more than well enough stocked. However, I might need some help.” Jou nodded and sat down. “I can help chop things up and what not. Chisa, my little sister is bringing you over some clean cloths. You two are about the same size.” The lady nodded happily. Jou sighed hoping Seto didn’t flip out. He would see as soon as his lover came down from taking a shower.