The Shadow Ball

This chapter contains shonen-ai, guys loving on, kissing on, and cuddling with guys, but no sex.


I do NOT own the rights to Yu-Gi-Oh! nor do I own the rights to the Celine Dion song 'Tell Him'.


Jonouchi paced the floor then stopped. He looked at the wild haired young teen looking at him intently through his midnight blue eyes.

"You mean to tell me your brother likes me Mokuba?" Jonouchi's brown eyes narrowed dangerously. "Your brother must be too chicken shit to tell me how he feels." The truth was Jonouchi himself had feelings for his boss that he'd rather not confront.

"Well, I don't really know, Jonouchi. I just know he gets this funny look in his eyes when he looks at you. I know he's stopped insulting you." Mokuba stood up and grabbed Jonouchi by his shoulders. "Stop fretting, and please stop pacing.. You are gonna make me puke with all that moving around."

Jonouchi laughed and his rebelious blonde hair fell accross his face. Since he'd graduated from Domino High, he'd let it grow long, and it was nearly as long as Mokuba's wild mane, but a whole lot tamer.

"Kid, how many times have I told you to call me Joey? That's what all my friends call me, only Shizuka calls me Jonouchi anymore." He allowed Mokuba to pull him into a hug. With all that had been happening lately, Seto had seen less and less of the two. Mokuba put it off to work, but had realized that he was avoiding his assistant now.

"Hey, Joey. Are you going to that ball Friday night?"

"Who would I go with, YOU? Seto would kill me."

Mokuba laughed. His midnight blue eyes danced as he turned away from Joey.

"Killing you would be too merciful in his eyes. Besides, I have a date, though I don't know if she likes me or not."

"Awww, Who's the lucky girl, Mo?" Joey shortened Mokuba's name and was the only living person who could call Mokuba 'Mo'.

"If I told you, You'd kill me.'

"No I wouldn't. Not even if it was Shizuka, but I think she's already going with someone else. It's NOT Honda...He's invited that Dungeon Dice dude.. That guy that Seto signed a contract with last week for Kaiba Corp to build better Duel Discs for."

"Otogi Ryuji? You are kidding me. By the way, It is your sister... I know she was taken in today.'' A shy blush crept over the young teens face. Joey knew that Isis had his sister put down with Mai to be arrested and taken to the spa, but he also knew that she'd put in Mokuba's name for his sister's intended date.

The insistant buzz of the intercom inside the top floor apartment broke their thoughs. Seto's voice came through before anyone even hit the buttons.

"Mokuba, it's lunch time, take Joey out somewhere, I don't care where, but you two just LEAVE!"

The two looked at each other and shrugged.

"You heard what that dragon said, Let's get out of here!"


Hours had passed since Mokuba and Joey had left the main building in the Kaiba Corp complex. Seto turned his chair to the windows and looked out. It had to be after midnight, and the two had still not returned. He knew very well where Joey was, but as for Mokuhe she should have returned long since. The phone rang and Seto was tempted to let it ring.
Something told him to answer it.

"Kaiba Corp,o Kao Kaiba speaking"

"Greetings Kaiba, Your brother is safe, he is being prepaired for his date for friday."

"Mokuba's only fifteen, who's the girl?"

"Let's just say that you and Jonouchi will introduce them." With that the line went dead.

***** Friday Night ******


Joey watched as Mokuba was fitted in a ruslorelored mask and robes. The robes had been Malik Ishtar's idea, and they looked like Shadow robes. Joey looked down at his own emerald colored robes and smiled. Soon his vision was obscured by the mask and blindfold. He heard Mokuba's muffled squawk of surprise as his own blindfold was placed over his eyes.

Beneth his robe, Joey was wearing a simple vest, and a soft pair of silk pants. He knew Mokuba was wearing an outfit that he'd picked with Mai. They were both dressing Shizuka and Mokuba. It was going to be a surprise for them both, as it had been extremely hard to keep the two teens from even seeing each other.


As they arrived at the Hotel, Joey knew the name of the place, it was a Hotel called the Camalot Parkside Hotel. It was built to look like an ancient castle. Recently it had been remodled to have gardens just outside the main ball room. Joey had seen it several times while it was being remodled, and remembered it when it was just a building on the demolition list.

Once inside the building, he heard Mai's laugh mingle with Isis as they swept his sister onto the dance floor. He heard Mai's shoes come back and felt Mokuba be pulled from his side.

A strong hand closed over his, and he smelled a cologne he loved. He'd bough a bottle of Adidis: Moves for Seto on his birthday, and he loved the way it made him smell. He smiled as they moved onto the dance floor.

Seto smiled at the emerald robes. He wished he were able to speak to Joey, but couldn't. He'd worn the cologne Joey had given him to lure Joey to speak his name so he could get this over with. He felt Joey moving towards the speakers and the DJ's booth. He led him over and stepped away as Joey made his request. He moved back over to the table and wrote down his request and handed it to the DJ. The DJ's eyes widened and he pulled out a cd.

"It will be the very next song." He mod. d. Seto nodded and pulled Joey back onto the floor.

The soft music started, and then the sweet voice of Celine Dion filled the room. Both men loved this song, and they agreed that if they were to hook up, it would be this song. Seto took a deep breath and pulled Joey as close as possible. Joey responded by laying his head on Seto's shoulder and breathed a deep sigh.

For Seto, the words summed up everything he was feeling:

I'm scared
So afraid to show I care
Will he think me weak
If I tremble when I speak
Oooh - what if
There's another one he's thinking of
Maybe he's in love
I'd feel like a fool
Life can be so cruel
I don't know what to do

I've been there
With my heart out in my hand
But what you must understand
You can't let the chance
To love him pass you by

Seto wished with all his heart that he cold speak to Joey. He could feel his love's heart pounding against his chest. He felt tears slide down his own cheeks. What if Joey didn't share his feelings. Joas sas so good at hiding how he felt. Seto fought the urge to break away and run.

Tell him
Tell him that the sun and moon
Rise in his eyes
Reach out to him
And whisper
Tender words so soft and sweet
Hold him close to feel his heart beat
Love will be the gift you give yourself

Touch him
With the gentleness you feel inside
Your love can't be denied
The truth will set you free
You'll have what's mean to be
All in time you'll see

Joey sighed. He snuggled closer to Seto and smiled to himself. It was heaven to be in his arms. He leaned up and kissed Seto on the lips then pulled away quickly, a soft smile playing where he knew full well Seto could see it. He almost felt his boss's reluctance. Why was he reluctant? Joey knew how he felt, even without Mokuba telling him, it was just a matter of admitting it to themselves.

I love him
Of that much I can be sure
I don't think I could endure
If I let him walk away
When I have so much to say

Seto struggled with his feelings for a moment longer then shoved Joey away. He had felt the soft kiss, and was truly confused now. Did Joey really care about him? They'd both requested the same song, it had to be true. But what if it wasn't, Seto couldn't bare it any longer.

'I-I can't d-do th-this to you, Jonouchi."

Seto reached around Joey's head and pulled off the mask. The brown eyes sparkled with love, pure and undying. Joey hesitated for only a heartbeat, then rushed forward to take Seto in his arms, kissing him madly.

Love is light that surely glows
In the hearts of those who know
It's a steady flame that grows
Feed the fire with all the passion you can show
Tonight love will assume its place
This memory time cannot erase
Blind faith will lead love where it has to go

The world had stopped turning on it's axis, time stood still. Seto threw his arms around Joey and responded to the kiss with all the passion in his heart. Together they swayed to the music and only reluctantly broke the kiss to breathe. The room burst into applause as the to continued to kiss and sway to the music.

Tell him
Tell him that the sun and moon
Rise in his eyes
Reach out to him
And whisper
Tender words so soft and sweet
Hold him close to feel his heart beat
Love will be the gift you give yourself

Never let him go


As the notes of the song faded away into an upbeat song, Seto pulled Joey out into the gardens, never breaking their kiss.


When they reached one bench, Seto noticed Yami and Yugi sitting dreamily together, lost in a sea of rapture. Yami noticed the two as they broke their kiss, and succumed to normal breathing.

"I see you two FINALLY admitted to each other how much you like each other." Yami laughed. He allowed them to walk by, even though his words seem to have been unnoticed.

Seto sat Joey on a bench, just on the other side of the hedge of Yami and Yugi.

"Jonouchi, I never knew how you felt towards me, and I wish I'd just let myself give in before tonight. I love you.

"Seto, I knew you liked me, and I never really let you know that I like you. I'm glad you waited till tonight. We've only danced to one song, but I dont think I can dance any more, my head's swimming so much.

Seto let out a small chuckle. " We have to stay, for Mokuba and Shizuka's sake."

'Why..Ohh Yeah... I hope they will be happy. I'm so happy that they are meeting here. Those two have been crushing each other for a while now.