A Year With You

Morning light shimmered lighting the small sparkles of dust in the air. Jou lay just gently caressing Seto’s hip with his thumb. He could hardly believe it had been a month since he and Seto first made love. Since then he hadn’t slept alone. He placed soft kisses in the spot between Seto’s shoulder blades just feeling content and lethargic. He was too comfortable to get out of bed. He also was rarely awake before his love so he took advantage of it when he could. Seto had been busy, as always, and this was their first day off in about a month. It was the start of fall break and he didn’t have to work that evening. Seto took three days off and said if any one called him for less than the building exploding or the system crashing or some other dire emergency he would fire them. He smiled into the warm skin his lips were still pressed against. He fluttered a few more small kisses along the back of Seto’s neck, glad his love was still sleeping. They needed more time for just the two of them. He knew Seto still had a lot on his mind with the tapes. The longer Bakura and Malik took the worse Seto’s nightmares got. Last night, he and Seto had made love till neither one could move.

Seto smiled as he woke feeling a warm hand on his hip and warm kisses absently pressed to his back. He rolled to his back and Jou’s hand slid easily settling low on his torso. Jou was clearly lost in thought because the gentle caressing didn’t pause. Seto’s body responded and he shook his head grabbing his puppy and pulling him down for a kiss.

Jou jolted slightly, so lost in thought he hadn’t even noticed his lover was awake. He sank into the warm kiss. “Morning, puppy. So, what had you so lost in thought?” He sighed resting his head on a firm chest. “Those tapes. Maybe there aren’t any or maybe you blew them up along with that one building.” His love was silent, gently running fingers up and down his arm. “I’ve thought of all those things as well. I also think that Malik and Bakura did find something and in that something, they found a hint of more tapes so they are finding all of them before they tell me. I oddly hope they don’t find anything. I think it will be easier for me to handle if they don’t.” He nodded, silently kissing Seto gently. “So enough depressing thoughts what are we going to do with our three days off?” Seto smiled soft and shrugged. Jou’s stomach made its thoughts on the matter known. “I’m hungry lets get breakfast, dragon.” Seto nodded absently. He grabbed his yukata, tossing Seto his. He swiftly put the garment on then skipped down the stairs.

Mokuba nodded to Jou who was humming happily while getting breakfast. His brother came down and kissed the top of his head. “You are up early.” He nodded slowly yawning. “Yeah, I’m meeting Nagi and Shizuka for our date today. We are heading over to Kaiba Land to play games and stuff.” His brother nodded absently grabbing breakfast. “So, what are you and Jou up to today?” His brother shrugged so he looked to Jou who shrugged as well. Mokuba sighed deeply knowing the two were hopeless. “I know tomorrow I’m getting together with the gang and we are all going to hang out. For today it’s just me and Seto.” He saw a hentai grin stretch across Jou’s face and he shook his head. “Well, then I won’t linger. Bye Seto, have fun with Jou.” His brother gave him a quick kiss on the head and a hug. Mokuba hopped into the car with Isono and sighed softly. He would miss his brother dearly. Seto was the only family he had ever known. Tears filled his eyes and the security guard looked baffled. “Master Mokuba, are you ok?” He nodded having second thoughts about Europe. He loved Nagi and Shizuka but Seto had been his life for all his life. He had vague fleeting memories of his parents. His memories with his brother were always clear and sharp. He loved the time they had and Jou just added a joy to their family. He wasn’t sure he was ready to leave.

Seto sighed softly as he heard the car leave the drive. His little brother was growing up. “It’s depressing, isn’t it?” He turned slightly to Jou who smiled at him. “It’s depressing to see your younger sibling grow up, isn’t it?” Seto nodded, taking a seat next to his puppy. “At least, you got to have a major role in Mokuba’s life. I was kind of absent for my sister’s life.” He pulled Jou close, kissing his head. “You sister still loves you.” Jou sighed, mumbling into his chest. “I know, I’ll just miss her.” Seto nodded his silent agreement. “Let’s not get depressed, puppy. We knew our siblings would grow up. What do you want to do today?” Jou shrugged and looked at him blankly. “Don’t care. It’s what ever you want to do, Dragon. I mean your life is ten times as busy as mine so I’m up for anything.” Seto thought it over smiling softly. “Can we just go for a walk?” Jou smiled at him and nodded.

~~~
Jou held Seto’s hand tightly in his own, lost in his own thoughts. It was true that he and Seto had finally made love but the times after that were few and far between. He also knew Seto had asked him to slow down, and instead of slowing down they pushed things forward about ten paces. He glanced at his lover who seemed content just walking and holding his hand. Seto liked the simple things. He realized Seto didn’t have much affection or any relationships in the past. Jou did. He wasn’t proud or happy about some of them; Hirotani was one of his more shameful memories. “Seto, are you happy?” His lover looked at him then at their joined hands and nodded with a small flicker of a smile. “I’m really happy.” Jou bit his lip bringing their walk to a pause. He loved Seto with all his heart, he just wasn’t sure where they would go. Seto needed some one who would take things slower. Jou knew he wasn’t one of those people. He looked around at the fall colors on the trees and felt the crisp bite of winter at his back. It had been close to three months since he first made the deal with Kaiba and in those months he had fallen in love. “Seto, I’m not sure I can do this any more.” His lover gave him a blank look and tears filled his eyes. “Do what, puppy?” He threw himself at Seto holding his lover tightly. “I don’t think I can keep hurting you.” Seto held him gently rubbing his back. Jou almost cried. “How have you hurt me, Jou?” He looked up and then buried his face into a warm neck mumbling. “I keep pushing you for more than you are ready for. You keep asking me to slow down and I keep speeding things up.”

Seto couldn’t fully understand what his blond puppy was saying, but he got the general idea. “Stop being stupid, mutt.” Jou pulled away eyes filled with fire and he smiled, cupping his puppy’s face gently. “Jou, I love you. I’m so grateful for everything you have given me. Stop being stupid and realize if I wasn’t happy, you wouldn’t be standing here with me right now. I’m a lot stronger than you think I am. I would kick your ass if I ever thought you were hurting me or using me.” Jou grabbed his hands, holding them to his face and they kissed softly.


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So I discovered that I mislabeled one of my chapters and I only have 40 chapters not 41.

anyway thanks to all my lovely reviewers.

Havoc Tellenoi: Yes new stuff when I remember. I'm so bad about updating in a timely manner. Keep reading and enjoying.

Callidius: Oh my god you are like my most constant reviewer. Plot??? What Plot??? There is a plot to my story?? Wow I'm impressed. The fact that I have a plot and that it may be coherant is stunning. I hope you are having a better week hun and that things keep going well.

jingko: I'm glad you liked last chapter it's one of my favorites. Thank you for you support.


willowsnight: I hope you keep enjoying it and please keep reviewing.