Four Seasons of Love

Chapter three done. I hope people have liked it so far. It’s no epic Wishshipping fic, but I don’t think every story I write needs to be 25 chapters long. I know there’s not a whole lot of conflict that marks a great story, however, I think that some sweetness comes with this couple.

Disclaimer: I still don’t own it. Never will. Even if, one day, I had enough money to buy the entire franchise, I probably wouldn’t—I’d have probably bought a bunch of cars I wouldn’t drive.

~:+:~

Jou loved Yuugi in the winter when there were times all he could see of Yuugi were two beautiful violet eyes and a little red nose peeking out over a thick scarf. It was good for Jou that he and his friends were out of school for the holidays because Jou was given permission by his father to spend the Christmas holidays at Yuugi’s. Both boys were thrilled at that news and were planning to have a small party on December twenty third with Anzu, Honda, Otogi, and Shizuka. They had politely extended invitations to Ryo (who had moved back to England), Mai (whom Jou did not really want to see, but who could not make it anyway), and Marik (who, with his sister, had returned to Egypt), but Yuugi and Jou agreed an intimate affair would be easier to sell to Yuugi’s grandfather than a rowdy one.

A couple of days before the twenty third Jou, Yuugi, Honda, and Anzu were at the mall shopping for gifts for the party. Yuugi and Jou had agreed to go in together on a present for Otogi, but no one had any idea what to buy for the black-haired boy. Honda and Anzu were examining a sterling silver picture frame, Jou and Yuugi were contemplating a blown glass candy dish, when Anzu squinted up at the lights and started to giggle.

“What’s so funny?” Honda wondered and followed Anzu’s outstretched finger, letting out a loud snort of laughter.

“It’s official, Yuug’, they’ve both lost it,” Jou did not even bother looking up while passing this judgement.

“I don’t know what’s funny, but they can’t be sharing an hallucination, can they?” Yuugi replied, shaking his head.

“Look up,” Anzu instructed.

Jou and Yuugi did as they were told and looked up at the ceiling. Immediately Jou looked at Yuugi and paled, barely noticing the blush that had spread over his friend’s cheeks. There was mistletoe above them.

“Yes, it’s just hilarious that Yuugi and I are under the mistletoe,” Jou snapped.

“Well, give him a kiss,” Honda urged. “It’s tradition.”

“I don’t think so,” Jou searched his brain rapidly for any excuse not to do that.

“Scared? Not secure enough in your masculinity, Jonouchi?” Anzu teased.

“Hey, no one is more secure in his masculinity than I am, but what about Yuug’? I'm not going to just force myself on him,” Jou retorted.

“Yuugi knows it’s tradition. Go on,” Honda ordered.

“Sorry, Yuug’, but I don’t think they're going to stop until I kiss you,” Jou whispered.

Yuugi stood there, eyes wide, as Jou cupped his face and placed a chaste kiss on his forehead. They separated, Jou stuffed his hands in his pockets so no one would notice they were shaking, and he glared at Honda and Anzu who were both doubled over in laughter. Anzu was the first to regain her composure and righted herself.

“Well, Jou, you sure proved us wrong,” she smirked. “How was it, Yuugi?”

“Fine,” Yuugi said shortly and Jou saw his friend’s cheeks were flaming red. “I'm going to go to a different store. I still have Anzu’s Christmas present to buy.”

“We don’t have a present for Otogi,” Jou pointed out to Yuugi.

“Here’s my share of what we’re going to buy. You pick out something,” Yuugi pulled out a handful of bills which Jou took. “We’ll meet in the food court in half an hour, okay?”

“Sounds good to me,” Honda agreed.

“Then we can get something to eat, right?” Jou requested.

“Yes, Jou, then we’ll tend to the massive organ you call a stomach,” Anzu rolled her eyes.

“Massive?” Jou was offended and lifted up his shirt to show off his abs. “Take a look at this six pack! I burn as many calories as I take in.”

“I’ll see you guys later,” Yuugi murmured and Jou watched him walk out of the store.

“You guys didn’t have to embarrass Yuug’ like that,” Jou rounded on Honda and Anzu.

“He can handle a little teasing,” Honda assured Jou. “You were the one making the big deal out of it. You were sulking for God’s sake.”

“I wasn’t sulking, I was…” Jou fumbled for an explanation. “I just wasn’t sulking. But it wasn’t fair to Yuugi. You both know he’s never had a kiss.”

“Oh, right,” Anzu at least had the grace to look ashamed of herself. “Should we apologize?”

“Nah, I think we should let the whole thing drop. He’ll get over it,” Jou only wondered if he himself would get over it.

“Think he’s really pissed and that’s why he left?” Honda worried.

“You heard him, he has to buy Anzu’s present,” Jou waved off the suggestion, but hoped he had not somehow ticked Yuugi off to the point where his invitation to stay for Christmas would be rescinded.

“Okay, well, we had all better buy presents for Otogi. I don’t think he’d be too pleased to show up at a Christmas party and not get anything,” Anzu picked up another object.

“The guy is almost as rich as Kaiba, what do you think he doesn’t have?” Jou chewed the inside of his cheek.

Half an hour later found Jou, Honda, and Anzu by the Orange Julius in the food court waiting for Yuugi who had yet to show. Anzu was the least perturbed and Jou assumed it was because she hoped Yuugi was taking a while to pick out her Christmas present. Honda was trying to get ideas for Shizuka’s gift out of Jou who was deliberately being unhelpful, but was only half paying attention because he wondered where Yuugi was. Jou had found a box-set of Otogi’s favourite TV series and used most of Yuugi’s money to pay for it, hopefully that would make things easier between them and Yuugi would forget Jou’s actions.

It was not that Jou wanted Yuugi to disregard the kiss, but if it came down to him hating Jou for it or pretending like it never happened, Jou was all for the charade. All he could do was be grateful his self-control had not left him and he had restrained himself to kissing Yuugi on the forehead. While Jou was lost in thought, Yuugi returned with a couple of shopping bags in his hands.

“Wow, you three look dead. Is this what happens when I'm not around?” Yuugi smiled at them as he took the seat next to Anzu.

“Yuugi, we can’t survive without you,” Honda shrugged.

“Can we eat now?” Jou avoided looking at Yuugi. “I haven’t eaten in hours.”

“It’s been an hour and a half, Jou. You ate a candy bar before we got here,” Anzu reminded.

“Well, it feels like hours,” Jou crossed his arms.

“Did you find something for Otogi, Jou?” Yuugi looked at him and Jou felt his face go pink.

“Yes,” Jou’s blush deepened as his voice cracked. “I mean, yes. It wasn’t that hard at a different store. Here’s the rest of your money.”

“Thanks,” Yuugi’s fingers brushed Jou’s as the money was exchanged, sending a jolt of electricity through Jou’s body. “We should get home. I have gifts to wrap. Jou, I think you can wait until we get home to eat something. Besides, that way it won’t cost you any extra.”

“Good point. Anyway, Honda, Anzu, it was nice to see you both,” Jou bowed low to them with a flourish of his arm. “We’ll be seeing you on the twenty-third.”

“Bye, Jou. Bye, Yuugi,” Anzu waved at them as she walked off in a different direction.

“See you, guys,” Honda nodded at them both and went in a second direction.

“Do you know, I'm starving,” Jou remarked to Yuugi as they headed for the bus stop.

“I never would have guessed that,” Yuugi laughed. “Your constant whining about being hungry gave absolutely no indication.”

“I don’t think it was constant whining,” Jou contradicted.

“Just insistent whining?” Yuugi teased. “Anyway, we’ll go home, get something to eat, and then wrap presents.”

“What did you get me?” Jou asked.

“I'm not telling. You can find out on the twenty third,” Yuugi laughed again at the imploring look on Jou’s face. “You can make that face all you like, but I won’t tell you—it’s supposed to be a surprise.”

“Fine,” Jou pretended to pout.

The day of the Christmas party arrived and Jou was able to find out what everyone had bought for him. He and Yuugi greeted all of the guests and they congregated around the little Christmas tree in the corner of the living room. They each had a small pile of presents and went around, each opening one per turn. Jou mostly received Duel Monsters cards (although Otogi gave everyone something pertaining to Dungeon Dice Monsters).

“Oh, Yuugi, this is beautiful,” Anzu exclaimed, examining a book of famous dancers with photographs the small boy had given her.

“I hoped you would like it,” Yuugi grinned.

“I do. How did you know I wanted this?” She wondered.

“I had no idea you did. I just saw it and thought of you,” Yuugi’s cheeks took on some colour as Anzu kissed him on both.

“Well, it’s perfect,” she declared.

“I wish I could dance,” Shizuka sighed, looking at the book in the other girl’s hands.

“You know, Shizuka, I could give you some private lessons if you wanted,” Otogi offered smoothly, causing Jou’s blood to boil.

Yuugi must have sensed Jou’s reaction because Yuugi placed a steadying hand on Jou’s reflexively clenched fist. Jou was so surprised by the contact he forgot to filter his reactions and let his mouth hang open stupidly. He shot his friend a look out of the corner of his eye, but Yuugi was smiling at Honda’s sudden fascination with a blinking ornament on the tree.

“You know, Otogi, that’s a very generous offer, but I'm sure I’d be terrible. I should really take professional lessons,” Shizuka laughed.

“I can give you the name of an instructor if you like,” Anzu supplied.

“Oh, no. Dancing is just one of those things I wish I could do, but probably would never try,” Shizuka waved her hand.

“Fair enough,” Anzu nodded in understanding.

“Hey, Yuugi, do you have any eggnog? It just doesn’t feel like a Christmas party with eggnog,” Honda inquired.

“You like that stuff?” Jou grimaced and noticed Yuugi’s hand was no longer on his own, he wondered when that had happened.

“Sure, Honda. Anybody else want some?” Yuugi nodded at Shizuka who raised her hand and went into the kitchen.

Jou hopped up and followed Yuugi into the other room. “Let me help you with those.”

“It’s two glasses, Jou, I'm sure I'll be fine,” Yuugi chuckled as he poured eggnog into two cups. “Shizuka is going to start dating eventually.”

“Huh? Oh, Otogi,” Jou grumbled. “Am I allowed to be sorry I bought him a gift?”

“That’s not the Christmas spirit,” Yuugi chastised. “He probably does it, in part, to annoy you. He knows you get your back up over Shizuka.”

“Yeah, well, he better watch it. One day…” Jou let the threat trail off as he could not think of exactly what he would do to Otogi should the need arise.

“One day, I'm sure you’ll beat up Shizuka’s first boyfriend,” Yuugi assured him.

“Oh, no, she’s not dating until she’s married. Preferably to a guy of my choosing,” Jou declared, scowling.

“That doesn’t make sense and you know it,” Yuugi shook his head. “Come on, I'm going back into the living room. Be nice, Jou, I don’t want you to ruin our party.”

“I'm always nice,” Jou plastered a smile on his face and preceded Yuugi into the living room.

“Thank you, Yuugi,” Shizuka accepted the drink and began sipping it.

“Thanks,” Honda took his own glass.

The six teenagers used the next couple of hours to examine the others’ Christmas gifts and chat about the marks they had received in school that semester. Around five that evening everyone began to take their leave of the Moto household; Shizuka was the last to leave and she gave Jou one last hug and kiss before she climbed into her mother’s car. That left Jou and Yuugi to clean up the wrapping paper and make dinner before Yuugi’s grandfather returned home.

Christmas Day was a quiet event as Yuugi and Jou had already exchanged presents, the time was spent putting together a new deck for Jou from the cards he already owned and the ones he had received as gifts. Yuugi did laundry on Boxing Day while Jou helped Gramps out with the store. Jou wondered what Yuugi would think of doing his friend’s laundry and what he thought of Jou’s choices for boxers (Jou liked graphics). He already knew Yuugi thought his pyjama pants were cool, but there was something more intimate about his underwear. Gramps put Jou to work cleaning all the places Yuugi was unable to reach without the help of a ladder or an extending cleaner.

“So, Grandpa put your lazy butt to work today,” Yuugi remarked while they were getting into bed that night. “How was it?”

“I am so sore,” Jou declared, rolling his shoulders. “I didn’t know I could stretch so far.”

“Didn’t even tell me that you're not lazy, you must be tired,” Yuugi observed.

“I thought I’d take it in stride. I know you don’t mean it. Besides, I'm not the one who ducked helping Gramps to do laundry all day,” Jou shot.

“Someone has to wash your dirty socks. Would you like me to teach you how to work the washing machine?” Yuugi raised an eyebrow. “Anyway, you were of more help to Grandpa than I could have been. Do you know it takes two of us to clean a ceiling fan? One to dust and one to hold the ladder.”

Jou could not help laughing and Yuugi shot him a dirty look. “I'm sorry, but that’s fucking funny. You have to admit, it’s a funny image.”

“Yeah, well…” Yuugi looked away as though he knew he would not win the argument.

“God, my back is in knots,” Jou complained as he lay down in his sleeping bag.

“Stop grumbling. Get up here,” Yuugi ordered and patted the bed.

“W-what are you going to do?” Jou had spent a considerable amount of time being afraid of what would happen if he got Yuugi on that bed.

“Just come and sit, will you?” Yuugi sighed.

“Fine,” Jou relented.

He sat on the bed, Yuugi scooted closer to him, touching Jou’s bare back with his soft hands, and Jou had to stop himself from shivering at the feeling. Yuugi pressed hard on Jou’s shoulder blades and moved his hands in a circular pattern, trying to be gentle on the tense places. Moving his hands further down Jou’s back, Yuugi used his thumbs on some areas. As Yuugi’s surprisingly nimble hands made their way down Jou’s spinal column, Jou melted into the touch, letting himself relax and closing his eyes.

“Feeling better?” Yuugi inquired after fifteen minutes of ministrations.

“Yes,” Jou whispered. “Well, I think it’s time for me to turn in for the night. Have a good sleep, Yuug’.”

“You, too,” Yuugi curled up under his comforter.

“That was a bad idea, Jou,” he told himself while lying in his his sleeping bag, somewhat hard. He should never have climbed onto the bed because staying in his sleeping bag would not have led to his being massaged by Yuugi which, in turn, would not have caused him to forget that receiving said massage was just a friendly gesture which, finally, would not have triggered his current state of arousal that was not going away. Jou thought very hard about the most unsexy things he could until his erection subsided and he finally drifted to sleep.

The Kame Game Shop was open for the few days between Christmas and New Year’s so both Jou and Yuugi were put to work during the rush of people wanting to return or exchange gifts they had received. Finally, New Year’s Eve arrived and Yuugi and Jou began to help close up the shop for the next couple of days. Yuugi and Jou were going to be celebrating New Year’s Eve alone this year—all their friends (and even Yuugi’s grandfather) had plans with family or other friends—but Jou could not have cared less. He was spending it with the person who mattered most to him.

“Hey, Yuug’, do we have all the snacks ready for our party tonight?” Jou wondered once Gramps had left and they were alone at Yuugi’s.

“First of all, it’s not a party, it’s us, a couple of movies, and watching the specials. Secondly, do you ever stop thinking of your stomach?” Yuugi laughed.

“We can’t watch movies all night without snacks,” Jou replied simply.

“Well, you're in luck because all the snacks are sitting in the kitchen just waiting to be put into bowls,” Yuugi informed.

“Sweet,” Jou trailed Yuugi down the stairs and into the kitchen. “What did you buy for us to eat? It better not be those vegetable chips Gramps gets.”

“That was one time, and I told you not to try them, and you stole them anyway,” Yuugi reminded. “It was your own fault.”

“Yeah, yeah, blame me for everything,” Jou rolled his eyes and began rooting through the cupboards looking for great snack finds. “Hey, these look good.”

“I know what you like, Jou,” Yuugi said in a soft voice and Jou hoped Yuugi knew only so much. “Come on, don’t stuff your face in here. At least wait until we have a movie in the player.”

“Okay,” Jou said around a mouthful of chips.

“You're kind of gross,” Yuugi said, taking two bowls of snacks into the living room and Jou did brought in the drinks.

“Come on, I'm adorable,” Jou swallowed the food in his mouth and grinned at Yuugi.

“Whatever you say,” Yuugi sat down on the couch.

They picked a movie and settled in to watch. Jou helped himself to more food and Yuugi sipped on his drink while the movie played. After the first movie they put in a second, but when that one finished, they decided to watch the New Year’s Eve special broadcast from the Domino City square.

“Can you believe it’s almost next year?” Yuugi had a pillow in his lap and was tugging at the tassels. “And soon enough it’ll be your birthday.”

“Yeah. Another year older, another year closer to freedom,” Jou was caught up in visions of leaving his dad’s place. Even though his old man was trying to clean up his act and get sober, Jou needed to get away, that was one of the reasons he had a job when he could swing it.

“You're really going to move out?” Yuugi looked impressed.

“Well, yeah. I can’t live with my dad forever. You're not planning on living with Gramps for the rest of your life, are you?” Jou wondered.

“I guess not,” Yuugi bit his lip.

“Whatever, it’s not like you have to decide right this minute,” Jou assured him.

“No,” Yuugi shook his head as if to clear it.

“Is that all that’s bothering you?” Jou was worried.

“Yeah. You know, there’s just so much that happens around holidays, it’s just a little overwhelming,” Yuugi explained.

“Fair enough,” Jou relaxed and turned back to the television. It was ten minutes to midnight.

“Jou,” Yuugi spoke again after a couple of minutes of silence.

“Yeah, Yuug’?” Jou saw Yuugi’s drawn brows and knew something big was going on in Yuugi’s brain.

“I've heard this superstition that the person you kiss at midnight on New Year’s Eve is the person with whom you spend the next year. Isn’t there a girl you’d rather spend New Year’s with instead of your friend?” Yuugi looked at him and Jou began to sweat.

“Tied down to one girl? Nah, Yuug’, I want to be here with you,” Jou tried to keep his voice steady. “Why? Wish you were with some cutie from History?” It was six minutes to midnight.

“No,” Yuugi sounded and looked vulnerable. “I want to be here with you, too.”

“Good. Because I'm here now and you're stuck with me,” Jou tried to laugh off the awkwardness of the situation.

“Are you alright?” Yuugi gave Jou a piercing look and scooted closer to him on the couch.

“I'm fine,” Jou lied and jumped when Yuugi’s cool hand touched his forehead. It was five minutes to midnight.

“You feel a little warm and you're sweating. Are you sick?” Yuugi asked.

“No,” Jou stated emphatically.

Yuugi gave Jou another long look and Jou felt himself heating up at the scrutiny. “If you're sure you're feeling all right…”

“I could run a marathon I feel so great,” Jou joked at four minutes to midnight.

“I think you should wait until the weather improves. Don’t want you to actually get sick running around in this weather,” Yuugi was still sitting very close to Jou who was still sweating.

“Thanks for your concern, Yuug’,” Jou tried to grin, but guessed it was hardly persuasive.

“You're acting a little weird, Jou,” Yuugi accused.

“I probably just ate too quickly,” Jou suggested. It was three minutes to midnight.

“You? Eat too quickly?” Yuugi laughed. “Besides, I thought you were feeling fine.”

“It…it just hit me,” Jou shrugged.

Yuugi looked like he was debating whether or not to believe Jou’s story; he must have decided to drop it because he just folded his hands in his lap and watched the TV. They were quiet until the people on the television began counting down the final minute and a half of the year, then Yuugi turned to Jou and Jou had the feeling something big was about to happen. He just hoped Yuugi would forgive him.

“You know, Yuug’, if there was someone you wanted to kiss on New Year’s Eve you could tell me,” Jou’s heart was pounding.

“I couldn’t tell you,” Yuugi shook his head. “You’d think I was gross.”

“I thought you knew me better than that,” Jou put on offended look. “Unless it was Anzu, then you’d need to get your head examined.”

“Ha ha,” Yuugi looked uncomfortable. “How ‘bout you? Who are you burning to kiss for New Year’s?”

“Nothing ventured nothing gained, right?” Jou thought to himself and looked into Yuugi’s eyes before speaking out loud. “You, Yuug’.”

The last ten seconds of that year were the longest ten seconds of Jou’s life: Yuugi turned red, stared at his hands for two seconds, leaned in, and kissed Jou on the lips. Jou was so shocked he could not even respond to the kiss for the first second, but as Yuugi was about to pull away, Jou found muscle control and grabbed Yuugi’s shoulders, tugging him closer. Nothing existed for Jou while Yuugi’s lips were touching his except for the two of them.

“Happy New Year,” Yuugi murmured when Jou finally let go of him.

“Yeah,” Jou swallowed hard. “Yuug’, you didn’t have to do that just because I wanted it.”

“I didn’t,” Yuugi had somehow moved to the opposite end of the couch. “I did it because I wanted it.”

“You wanted it?” Jou was having difficulty processing this new development. “Does this mean?”

“Jou, I've had a crush on you for a while now,” Yuugi would not look him in the eye.

“You have?”

Jou wanted to see Yuugi’s eyes, wanted to that his friend was speaking the truth. He knew Yuugi would never tease him over this, but Jou needed to make sure Yuugi was not just trying to make him happy. Yuugi nodded.

“Then why won’t you look at me?” Jou wanted to tilt Yuugi’s face up to look at him, but he was afraid.

“Because I just threw myself at you. How pathetic can someone get?” Yuugi was flushed with embarrassment.

“Yeah, but you wouldn’t have thrown yourself at me if I hadn’t told you I wanted to kiss you,” Jou reasoned. “If we both wanted this, why can’t we look at each other?”

“I don’t know,” Yuugi laughed shakily.

“On the count of three?” Jou proposed.

“Okay,” Yuugi nodded. “One.”

“Two,” Jou counted.

“Three,” they said in unison and looked at each other.

Yuugi looked at Jou, Jou looked at Yuugi, and they smiled shyly at each other. Jou moved closer to Yuugi and collected the smaller boy in his arms; Yuugi wrapped his arms around Jou’s neck and allowed the taller boy to put his arms around his waist. They sat there for a few moments, foreheads touching, and said nothing to each other. All Jou wanted to do was throw Yuugi down on the floor and have his way with him, but Jou figured that would scare Yuugi so Jou settled for nestling his face in Yuugi’s hair and placing a kiss on his head.

“I want another kiss,” Yuugi requested.

“With pleasure,” Jou leant in and pressed his lips to Yuugi’s who made a noise in his throat.

“We shouldn’t do this here,” Yuugi broke the kiss. “Grandpa could be home any minute. I'm actually surprised he's not home yet. I don’t know if he’d be too thrilled to see this.”

“Doesn’t want to walk in on his grandson kissing another guy? Can’t imagine why that would be,” Jou let go of Yuugi and they both stood.

“It’ll be easier in my room,” Yuugi took Jou’s hand and they walked upstairs.

They made out for hours on Yuugi’s bed, Jou longing to go further, but not wanting to rush the new development, and Yuugi seemed hesitant to move his hands lower than Jonouchi’s hips where he rested them somewhere around one thirty in the morning. Honestly, Jou loved Yuugi in the winter when they were just beginning to explore their feelings for each other even though Yuugi made Jou continue to sleep in the sleeping bag until he had to go back to his father’s. Jou loved Yuugi all year long.

~:+:~

So they’re together. Yay! I couldn’t decide whether or not to have them kiss in winter or spring because they both seem so romantic, but I thought a New Year’s Eve kiss would be cute. Please R & R!