A Year With You

~~~: denotes passage of time.

thank you thank you to all my lovely reviewers. i hope you all like this chapter.


***********************************


Mokuba yawned plodding his way into the kitchen. He gave a sleepy smile to Jou who looked about as awake as he felt. He sluggishly climbed his way on to one of the stools around the counter. His brother breezed in swiftly grabbing a mug and filling it with some apple juice. He grabbed a bagel and took hold of the white jacket just as it passed him. Seto paused and looked at him with a small smile kissing the top of his head. “Bye. I have a meeting this morning and some payroll to do. I should be home around five.” He nodded shoving the bagel into his brother’s mouth. “Have a nice day.” His brother nodded then he dropped a quick kiss on Jou’s cheek as he tried to leave. “Seto don’t forget Yugi and the others will be over.” Seto paused and nodded. “I was planning on heading over to the game shop first then I was going to bring them here.” Jou said gently and his brother nodded chewing. “Sounds good. I’ll send the driver home to get you guys.” He nodded seeing the wisdom in that idea. “Sounds good. The limo should fit every one.” He smiled tossing a pair of keys at his brother who easily caught them. “Take your car and we can just take the limo when we need. We’ll save on gas.” His brother nodded and left.

Jou felt a tiny thrill travel though him when Seto kissed his cheek. He was now part of a clearly well oiled morning ritual. He had only been at Kaiba’s for a few days but he felt like a small part of a family. He realized that the two brothers were more of a family than his had ever been. Seto may run a huge company but he still took time to eat dinner with his brother. It made him feel warm and fuzzy. It also made him miss his sister desperately. “So when are we heading to the game shop?” Mokuba asked softly looking after the door almost like a lost puppy. “We’ll get food first. I can only deal with Bakura and Malik when I have food.” Mokuba turned giggling softly and heading to the fridge. He stood behind the young boy looking at his choice of food. He was used to seeing beer and milk so old it went bad months ago. This fridge had juice and milk that looked fresh, eggs, cheese, meat, fruit, vegetables, and almost anything else he could dream up. “We can have cereal, or make fruit smoothies. Seto doesn’t like me making anything that involves the oven when he is gone.” He looked down to Mokuba grabbing some eggs and some other things to make omelet like scrambled eggs. “He may not like you using it, but he never said anything about me using it.” Mokuba flashed him a smile and pulled a stool over to the counter he would be working at pulling down what they needed. He and the young boy chopped up all kinds of goodies and made the best eggs he had in years. He had to admit but he could get used to his new life.

Yugi paced the shop for the millionth time waiting for Jou. He was so worried about his friend and where the blond was living. Jou should have asked him. He would have begged and cried until his grandpa agreed to let Jou stay for good. Not that it would take much, his grandpa loved Jou. He was so lost in his thoughts he didn’t notice the sleek black limo pull up or Jou and Mokuba step out. The bell above the door chimed happily and he nearly jumped out of his skin. His best friend grinned at him and he rushed into warm and welcome arms. “Jou I was so worried.” He almost sobbed but his best friend just laughed giving him a tight squeeze. “Jounouchi it is good to see you.” His Yami said gently. He slowly pulled away looking his friend over. Jou was glowing with happiness. “Yeah it’s good to be here. I missed you guys. Are the others here yet?” He shook his head and Jou just grinned. “That’s good. I can tell you everything while we wait.” He nodded happily skipping to the living room.

Yami shook his head ready to fallow his hikari and Jou until he noticed Mokuba standing silently off to the side. He gave the young man a quizzical look but calmly walked over. “Mokuba I almost didn’t recognize you. How have you been?” He asked gently. The boy just shrugged looking around. “The shop looks good.” He gave a small bow of thanks. “So what brings you here with out your…charming brother?” He asked trying to hide his distaste for the older Kaiba. “Don’t be sarcastic. You may not like my brother but I do love him. I may be little but I am fiercely protective of my family. Unlike you I don’t compare my brother to Seth. Seto has and always will be Seto no matter how he looks or what you may believe. Do we have an understanding?” He blinked at the young man he now saw in a very new light. For so long he saw Mokuba only as a child, now he could see that the boy he knew had grown up. “I am sorry Mokuba. I will try and refrain from speaking poorly of your brother. However, your brother has done very little to change my opinion of him. Mokuba just gave him a coy smile and strutted past him heading to the living room. “That may change.” He fallowed wondering about the cryptic message.

~~~

Yugi sat with his mouth hanging open staring at his best friend who was blushing softly. He closed his mouth only to open it again making him feel like a fish. He looked to Yami for help but his darker half just sat there looking some what stunned. “Jou are you sure you’ll be ok? I mean he’s not taking advantage of you is he?” Mokuba made a small angry sound that suddenly made him feel guilty. “Yug’ don’t worry so much. I am a big boy and I can take care of myself.” He nodded and looked to the young raven haired boy who looked livid. “I don’t think Seto is the kind of person to take advantage of those who really need his help. He has always helped us in the past with out getting anything in return. He may seem all icy but I think he’s just really lonely.” He closed his mouth with a snap as his best friend spoke tenderly of the brunet. He knew Jou was right because Kaiba had always helped them when they were in need. Granted the brunet never seemed all the happy to do it but the help was always provided. “Yug’ he has been really great to me. I mean I barrowed so much money and he asked for so little in return. Now I’m living at his house for free and…he’s been really great.” He nodded sadly understanding the odd and most likely uncomfortable situation his friend was in. “Jou as long as you are happy I’m fine.” His best friend smiled brightly at him.

Yami looked to Mokuba who just gave him a small satisfied little smile. He thought over all the times Kaiba had provided them with help in one way or another and suddenly felt a little sick. He had thought so poorly of the brunet for so long that he couldn’t see the good. He looked to Jou who was blushing looking down at his hands that were fiddling with the edge of his fine looking shirt. He really looked Jou over and noticed everything the blond had on was new. “Jou the new cloths look good on you.” Jou blushed a little more brightly and he understood at once. “Kaiba gave them to you?” Jou nodded softly and sighed smiling. “He said they were a gift. I have a full closet of new cloths.” He nodded once then looked at the blond dead in the eye. “Jou how are you paying back Kaiba for the money you borrowed?” Jou returned his look with a level one of his own. “That is between Kaiba and me.” He nodded in respect not sure what else to do.

~~~

Jou smiled at his friends as they all piled into the limo. He hadn’t told the others where he was living. He figured if it was a surprise they might handle things better. He looked to Mokuba who had been strangely silent the whole day. The young boy was just staring out the window as his friends talked rapidly. Bakura was going thought the limo trying to find something while Malik played with the windows under the disapproving gaze of his hikari. He gently touched the young boy who just smiled at him and went back to looking out the window. “What’s wrong?” Mokuba shrugged and then glanced around. “I don’t fit in. You guys have a history and I don’t have a place in that. I mean I was there but I was never part of the group. Don’t worry I have my own friends that I can call when ever I like.” He gently punched Mokuba in the arm and shook his head. “Just because you aren’t part of the history doesn’t mean you can’t join the future. You can never have too many friends.” Mokuba smiled shaking his head. “I’ll try.” The young boy promised and he felt himself grin.

Jou hopped out of the limo waiting for the others. His friends piled out and he grinned. “Well this is where I’m living.” Honda just looked at him sutipidified while Otogi huffed and mumbled something. Ryou and Marik blinked at him while their yamis gave him a priceless look. Yugi smiled and skipped in. “Well let’s go in and see Jou’s new place.” He smiled at his best friend rather grateful that at least some one was on his side. He turned and threw open the door excited to show all of his friends his new room.

~~~

Jou lounged on his bed chatting with the others honestly happy to show off where he lived. Honda was the only person that really got a good look at where he used to live. He looked to his oldest friend who smiled at him and nodded. He grinned from ear to ear when a phone turned every one’s head to Mokuba. The young boy ignored them an answered with all the skill of a diplomat. “Mokuba.” He watched the young boy nod and then blushed as his stomach let out a loud rumble. The phone snapped shut and Mokuba grinned. “My brother being the genius that he is having food delivered because he figured we would all be hungry and I quote ‘the last thing I want is the thief and the psycho in my kitchen.’ Is pizza good for every one?” He pounced the young teen who giggled slightly. “FOOD!” His friends broke into giggles knowing him well.

~~~

Seto slowly took off his shoes at the door. He felt dead on his feet. What was supposed to be a simple day turned into chaos when the main server died. Luckily he was smart enough to back everything up so what could have taken twelve months only took twelve hours. It was well past three in the morning and all he wanted was sleep. He yanked at his tie then paused as he passed the living room. He peeked in finding Jou and all of his friends spread across the floor sound asleep. He felt himself let out a soft forlorn sigh. Maybe if he hadn’t challenged his stepfather all those years ago he could have friends like that. However he dug his own grave and he was going to lay in it. He had done it all for Mokuba and he knew very well he’d do it again in a heart beat. If only he had known the way things were going to turn out. He derailed his own train of thought knowing that brooding over the past would never change his future. He found Mokuba among the bodies and smiled softly. As long as his brother was happy he didn’t care what happened or what had happened to him. He turned ready to head to bed when a soft voice broke his thoughts. “Seto?” He turned slowly looking to Jou. Gold eyes gleamed in the darkness. “Thanks.” He nodded slightly and left for the safety of his room. Tears burned his eyes as he flopped on the bed and descended into the dark home of his nightmares. He had no future away from Kaiba Corp and with Jou. The blond saw him as nothing because deep inside he was everything he stepfather claimed. He was nothing.