A Year With You

Seto looked at the date on his calendar, wondering where the year had gone. Everything happened so quickly. He smiled, remembering his and Jou’s birthdays, Halloween, Christmas, and New Years. They were all great days that lead to great nights. He sighed looking at a date further down the month. He tapped his pen thinking about Prom. School was almost out, meaning his little brother was going to leave him. That was only one of the things plaguing his busy mind. The other was Jou. He loved Jou more than he could tell and he thought he knew Jou loved him. Lately, it just hadn’t felt like Jou loved him much. His koi used to bring him lunch at work. Now he was lucky if Jou even came to his work. It seemed all he and Jou did any more was having sex. Not that the sex wasn’t mind blowing and wonderful because it was. It just wasn’t lovemaking any longer. It was almost cold and impersonal. It was more like fucking really. That depressed him. He looked down at the little day that was only two weeks away and heaved another sigh.

Jou looked over the newspaper circling the few apartment complexes that sounded good. He sighed heavily not sure what to tell his lover. He had been avoiding Seto to some extent because he didn’t want to tell his love he wanted to move out. It wasn’t that he didn’t love living with Seto because he did. He loved Seto with all his heart and soul and he loved spending every waking moment with the man he loved. He just wanted to forge his own path in life. He wanted to live on his own where he relied on no one but himself. He just wasn’t sure Seto would understand. “Jou, what are you doing?” He looked up at Anzu and smiled slightly.

Anzu was a good waitress. Kentaro had hired her after three waiters called in sick on one of the biggest nights they had. Jou had called her and begged a favor. Anzu came in and did a dazzling job. Kentaro got down on his knees and begged Anzu to stay. It didn’t take much. Kentaro paid much better than her current job and he had contacts in the states that he could set her up with when she moved for school.

Jou looked at the paper and sighed showing his friend. She gave him a puzzled look. He could see the questions forming in her eyes and he wanted to answer them all but she only asked one. “Did you and Kaiba have a fight?” The question took him off guard. “No! We hardly ever fight and when we do they are stupid little things that normally blow over fairly quickly. I just want to prove to myself that I can make it on my own. It’s that simple.” His friend nodded looking him over. “Have you told Kaiba?” He shook his head and Anzu sat looking at him. “Jou, you should tell him. Secrets like this can be messy if they come out wrong. It could really damage your guys’ relationship. Jou, I love you and I don’t want anything to happen to you. However, I’ve seen a very different side of Kaiba since you two have been together. If things go bad you will be hurt but you’ll move one. It will destroy him.” Jou snorted and took Anzu’s hand and smiled softly. “He is a lot stronger than you think.” Anzu smiled slightly and gave his hand a small squeeze. “That may be. Just remember that his little brother is moving half-way across the world and if you leave he will be alone and most likely be very lonely. He doesn’t have many friends, Jou. I also don’t think he will know how to handle a break up. He loves you and if you think on it, you are the only person besides Mokuba, he has really opened his heart to.” Jou sat in stunned silence and watched stupidly as Anzu picked up her order and swiftly left to serve her table. He wanted to know when she grew up and became so wise.

~~~

Jou dragged his feet and flopped on the couch snuggling into his boyfriend. Work had been hectic and what Anzu said kept haunting him. “Jou, what are your plans for Prom?” Seto asked gently and he shrugged. “Yugi asked me if I wanted to go with him and Yami. I said sure. I didn’t think you would want to go. I’m sure he will be more than happy to have you join if you want.” His boyfriend stood so swiftly he didn’t have time to recover. Next thing he knew Seto was gone.

Seto stormed up the stairs and went and locked himself in his room. It hurt. Jou didn’t love him any longer. He buried his face in his pillow and screamed into his pillow. He was hurt that Jou no longer loved him. He was Seto Kaiba and a Kaiba never stayed sad for long they just got pissed. Actually, Seto had his mother to thank for his temper; all of her family was a little hot headed. He flew off his bed pacing his room trying to calm himself and think like the rational person he was. Most the time, however, Jou made his rational side fly off the hook. He growled not sure who he was really mad at.

Jou headed up the stairs and knocked softly on his lover’s bedroom door. He waited for a sound but none came. “Seto…Dragon…Koi…” He called, hoping Seto would respond to one of the names he had always called his love. No answer so he opened the door slightly only to jump back and slam it as a lamp hit only inches from his head. He opened the door and the hard copper singing bowl he got Seto flew at his head as well. He stepped into the room dodging random projectiles. He knew if Seto really wanted to hit him, his love wouldn’t miss. Soon Seto ran out of the hard things to throw so he moved to the bed and started throwing pillows. The first one hit Jou in the face. “Seto, tell me what’s wrong?” His lover snarled and hurled another pillow at him. Jou sighed deeply and calmly approached his lover. “Seto. Please tell me what has you so upset.”

Seto started to laugh a little madly while still chucking things at Jou. He was rather pleased his maid had put on all the little throw pillows and other extras on his bed. “YOU HAVE ME UPSET! You are a lying, ignoring, using, no good, lousy, rotten self-centered, jerk!” He hollered realizing he only had one thing left to throw and that was the pillow left in his hand. The blond had continued to move slowly closer so instead of throwing the pillow he decided to use it was a weapon. He started to beat Jou with the pillow trying desperately to get the blond to leave him alone.

Jou paused slightly as he was smacked full force in the face with a pillow. He stood facing his panting cornered lover and took a slow step back. It was unwise to face a cornered dragon unarmed and unwilling to fight. Jou had only really ever seen Seto angry once and he honestly never wanted to see it again. “Seto I told you to tell me if you ever felt like I was using you for money. I would never want to make you feel that way.” His lover chuckled darkly and slammed the pillow into his face again. Jou took a few more steps back getting out of range.

Seto held the pillow in a death grip even if he could no longer reach his lover. He watched the blond closely judging every movement. “There is more than money you could use me for, Jou.” His lover gave him a puzzled look then cross his arms. Seto growled as Jou no longer gave him the confused look but one of patient anger. “What exactly am I using you for, Seto?” Seto tried to take a step back then realized he had jammed himself in a corner. He grabbed on to the curtains by his hand while still holding the pillow with the other one. “SEX!” His lover gave him a flat look and took a step closer. “Seto, you have lost your mind. What in the seven hells would make you think that I am using you for sex?” Seto swung the pillow at Jou barely missing. “We don’t talk, we don’t cuddle, we hardly see one another, we never do anything together, all we do is have sex.”

Jou thought over everything his lover was saying and sighed heavily turning around and going over and sitting on the bed. “Seto, I’m not using you for sex.” His lover gave him a dark chuckle. “Prove it.” He nodded and sighed heavily. “Three weeks no sex.” His love said softly, calming down. Jou on the other hand almost swallowed his tongue. He could hardly go three days with out making love to his dragon. Three weeks was going to kill him. “Ok, can we make it three days?” he asked, carefully. His lover cackled. “Two weeks and three days.” Jou nodded and slowly stood. He kissed his dragon gently and sighed. “Seto, I will admit I’ve been avoiding you. I want to tell you why, I’m just not sure how you will handle it.” His lover gave him a careful look then walked over and flopped on the bed. “If you want to break up with me fine. I don’t need your pity fuck.” Jou blinked and moved over to the bed spooning his lover. “Seto, I don’t want to break up with you. I love you! It’s just…well…I…um…I kind of want a place of my own. It’s not because I don’t love living here with you because I do. I love spending all the time I can with you. I just need to prove to myself that I can make it on my own. I don’t want to rely on you for the rest of my life never knowing it I can make it by myself.”

Seto looked over his shoulder at his lover and snorted. All of this drama over his puppy being stupid. “You should have just told me that in the first place, Jou. You should not have avoided me in all things except sex. I’m not a toy, Jou, and I don’t like being used like one. It pains me to know that you think you can’t trust me to function like a rational human being. Today aside; have I ever given you a reason to think that I’m not rational and understanding?” Jou’s head dropped to his chest and he heaved a heavy sigh. “No. I’m just afraid of losing you. I’m so afraid of losing you that I make up all these horrible scenarios in my mind. So, instead of thinking of what you really would do, I think of the bad things that I imagine you might do. Are you still mad?” Seto snorted and flopped back on his side. “Yes. You’re sleeping in your room until you get it through that thick head of yours that I am your lover and I’m not going to let you go easily. You also have to figure out why I’m still mad at you.”

Jou sat on the bed giving Seto’s back a puzzled look. His lover was in some mood today. He understood though. He had hurt Seto and his lover was not thinking like an adult like he so acted but like the sulky teenager he really was. He leaned forward and gave Seto a soft lingering kiss. “I’m sorry, I’m an idiot. Sleep well, Dragon.” He stood and headed for the door but paused looking over the pile of broken glass. He grabbed the small vacuum that Seto kept in the closet and swiftly cleaned up. He headed to his room and flopped on his bed, wondering what made Seto so angry. He sat up and called Honda hoping his friend could shine a little light on the subject. He hadn’t really spoken to Yugi since the whole thing with the videos. He had talked to his once best friend but things weren’t like they were.

Honda grabbed his phone looking at the name that was happily flashing. He rolled his eyes and pressed talk. “Hay, Jou, what’s up?” He asked, while still gently massaging his boyfriend’s feet. He was thrilled that he and Jou had become a lot closer like they were when they were younger but sometimes his best friend chose the worst times to call. He was sure he did, too. “Honda, Seto and I just had a huge fight and I need some advice.” Honda looked at Otogi and gave his lover an apologetic smile. His lover stood giving him a soft kiss and leaving him alone to talk to his best friend. “What do you need, Jou? I’ll help any way I can.” His friend heaved a heavy sigh and told him the story about the apartment and the talk. “He’s still mad at me and I don’t know why.” Honda thought things over carefully and nodded seeing part of the problem. “Jou, he’s worried you don’t love him. He’s most likely mad about several things. You know what I think? I think you should talk to Mokuba. If any one can shine some light on the inner workings of Seto Kaiba’s head, it’s him, not me.” His friend sighed again and he smiled. “You’re right, Honda, thanks for the help.” He gave a small hum and hung up. He now needed to go find his boyfriend.

Jou trudged his way to Mokuba’s room and knocked on the door. The raven haired boy opened the door and gave him a puzzled look. Mokuba had grown the past few months and the boy was starting to look more like his brother. “Can we talk?” The door was opened and he went over and flopped on Mokuba’s bed.

Mokuba sat waiting for Jou not saying anything. He was sure it had to do with his brother and he was trying to decide how mad he would get. “Jou, before we start, you aren’t going to ask me the best way to break up with Seto, are you? If you are, I might just kill you.” The blond looked at him in surprise and he felt himself relax a little. “No. He’s mad at me and I don’t know why. I thought we talked things out but I’m missing something.” He nodded and sat listening as Jou told him what was going on. He nodded finding the problem fairly early in the story. “Ok, Jou, first off Seto is pissed because you were ignoring him. He needs time to cool down. Then he’s pissed because you don’t trust him. That is something you two will have to work on and I’m sure he knows that. The reason he is still acting mad at you is going to sound really silly, but you have to understand my brother lacks some social skills and he’s a little lost. He’s angry that you didn’t ask him to prom. When he asked what you were doing for prom he most likely wanted you to look at him with big, soft eyes and say something like ‘I don’t care what we do as long as I’m with you.’ Or maybe something like ‘I really want to go to the dance but I want you there with me.’ You know something lame and mushy. You said that you were going with Yugi and it was ok if he wanted to come. You should have said ‘Yugi asked me to go with him but I think it would be more fun if we went as a couple’ or ‘Yugi asked me but I really want you to come, too.’ He’s sensitive. So ask him to prom and make him feel like you really want him there and you aren’t just doing it because you have to and he’s hurt. So think of how to do that and good luck.” Mokuba gently patted Jou on the back then shoved the blond from his room.

~~~

Jou thought he had it all figured out on how to ask Seto. His lover walked in the kitchen still ignoring him so he walked up and wrapped his arms around his lover. “Seto, I can’t figure out why you are mad at me. I’ve been racking my brain all night and come up with nothing. However, I’ve been thinking about Prom and I decided I would rather spend the night with you than with my friends. I want to be in your arms all night then come home and snuggle close and kiss. Or we could skip Prom and I would be happy to spend the night here just cuddling with you. So, do you think you can forgive me enough to go to prom with me? I don’t know if you want to go but I would like it if we could go as a couple. I’ll even let you pick out what I’m wearing.” His lover turned studying his face for a long while. His lover then smiled and kissed him deeply. He sank into warm lips and strong arms drifting off in contentment. “That was what I wanted. I wanted you to want me. Still two weeks with out sex.” His lover kissed him again and he made a protest in the back of his throat. The next two weeks were going to kill him.

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so funny story I forgot about this story then my beta sent me a few chapters. Well I posted this one over a month ago and it never got posted so I must have done something wrong. Sorry guys. I'll try and get the rest of the chapters out when I can. For now you'll have to do with one.

oh i had several people ask me about the missing chapter and if I could rewrite it. The answer is no. I wrote this story over a year ago. I don't plan my chapters they just kind of come to me and I type them. So when the chapter was lost it was lost for good. No worries it was most likely a pointless filler chapter so I don't think you are missing any thing. Sorry for the bad news and the REALLY late update.