Bury It Deeper

 

Across town, Seto stalked into his apartment.  “Anything interesting?”



The head of his security team gave him a guarded look.  “Perhaps you should view the earlier broadcast and decide for yourself.  Currently, they are trying to think of a way to 'borrow' a vehicle for transport.”  The team leader disclosed, rising and standing at attention.  “We will be in the next room if you need us.”  Without so much as another glance at his tall boss, the man hustled everyone out of the room.  No way was he going discuss 'love' and personal disclosures with his notoriously private boss.  He valued his job, not to mention his skin.



A little surprised at the less than adequate answer, Seto glanced at the men as they filed out of the room.  Their red cheeks and evasive looks told him not to pursue it.  No matter, he'd watch the broadcast and make his own decisions.



Keeping one eye on the current broadcast, he brought up the last twenty odd minutes of footage.  He completely lost track of what was happening real time when he heard their conversation.  His ego soared and his cock stirred behind his zipper when he heard that Yugi was attracted to him, but that reaction paled in comparison to the deep glow that lit him when he realized that Jounouchi genuinely loved him – had loved him for years.  Loved him enough to give him up.  He snorted at that even while it warmed him to the toes.  Seto knew his own nature, knew that if he loved the way Jou seemed to... he'd never give them up and would do everything in his power to make them happy – with him.  Self-sacrifice and noble shit aside, his lover or lovers were his.



At the mention of a bigger problem, he sat up straighter.  He was expecting to hear them talk about the body, perhaps decide to ask him to help.  Instead, he heard their discussion of Hiata and his blackmail.  Gritting his teeth, Seto stifled a snarl and called his Security Chief.  “Was there someone else in Jounouchi's house last night?”



“Yes Kaiba-san.  He picked the lock to the front door just before we placed the... package.”  Seto gave the man full marks for discretion.  It wasn't everyone who could glibly call a dead body a package with barely a hesitation in his voice. That admiration didn't negate the rage that coursed through him at the other man's failure to discuss this threat with him.  “And you didn't inform me?”



“No, Sir.  It's annotated in the log, but as the intruder only picked the lock, came in just far enough to retrieve a small wrapped box and then left immediately, without seeing any of our crew or the package, it seemed of little consequence.”



“Hnn...”  Seto mentally cursed about being surrounded by fools only to stop mid-rant when his security chief pointed out, “The folder on your desk has a complete dossier of the man in question.  We were able to get his fingerprints off the door and run them through the police database.  I sent the commissioner the usual note of thanks.”  Again with the discretion, this time about the bribe he paid to the top cop for the 'use' of the official system.  His security chief was quickly redeeming himself in Seto's eyes from the screw-up of hiring an untrustworthy man.  



Seto grunted and hung up.  Sitting next to his laptop was the promised folder.  Keeping his eye on the current activity in Jounouchi's house, which consisted of Jou pacing and tugging at his hair in agitation and Yugi sitting quietly sipping what had to be ice cold, nasty coffee, Seto opened the folder.  If this Hiata person was a threat, he would have to intervene.  Until then the man made a perfect red herring.



A sudden loud shout from the monitoring screen made him turn sharply, focusing on the screen.  Jou was hugging the stuffing out of Yugi who was returning the hug, and both looked extremely relieved.  Before he could rewind to view the last few seconds, Jou coughed and released Yugi.  They both sank to the sofa and Jou immediately broke into excited speech.  “It's perfect!  With Otogi out of town and you knowin' where the keys to his ride are... We can borrow it and nobody will know anything about it.  He has it in storage so there ain't any plates an' in th' dark a pink car will look white or even gray.”  Another exuberant hug.  “Yer a genius bud!”



“Thanks Jou.”  Yugi smiled up at him brightly for a moment before sighing and snuggling into his chest.  “Now that it's settled, I need to sleep.  I had nightmares.”  Dark amethyst eyes studied his friend’s shadowed eyes and drawn face carefully. “So do you.  Lets sleep Jou... right here, just like this.  I want... I need to be held right now.”



Jou nodded and tightened his casual embrace.  Yugi was right.  They both needed to rest, and they both needed to feel someone close.  A crisp rustle behind him caught his attention.  Without a second's hesitation, he pulled Seto's billowing, slightly crumpled leather coat from the sofa arm and shook it out, covering both of them in the Kaiba scented leather.



Jou wouldn't have minded a certain strong brunet wrapping around him like the coat, but he wasn't complaining about holding his best friend either.  'Perfection,' he thought drowsily, as trauma lost it's adrenaline laced grip and he relaxed, drifting into sleep. 'Would be holding Yugi while Kaiba held me...'  Of course it could never happen, but sleep was for dreams wasn't it?



Seto would deny it to his last breath, but seeing Jou and Yugi cuddled together on a couch, wrapped in his coat, made his heart melt even as his dick hardened from all the hentai images running through his over-active imagination.  The possibility he'd vaguely considered was rapidly becoming a necessity.



Stealing peeks at the sleeping men, he continued reading the complete dossier.  It was mildly alarming but not enough to make him step in yet.  He could see where he might have to do a little annoyance swatting, but unless the fool crossed the line, he wouldn't have to step in for a major crush.



He'd finished his reading and was contemplating a nap when a sudden noise from the surveillance monitor caught his attention.  Frowning, he identified the source as a pounding on the door.  He watched as Jou opened his sleep heavy eyes and, after groaning slightly, wriggled off the couch and staggered to the door.



As soon as the door was unlocked, it was slammed open, hitting Jou in the shoulder and sending the half-asleep blond stumbling back.  "What th'..."  He broke off with a gasp.  "Hiata."  Both Jou and Seto came to full alert.



The older man smiled cruelly and forced his way past the still off-balance blond, stalking across the room to where Yugi was just waking up.  “What th' fuck do you want?”  Jou vaulted across the room, somehow landing between Hiata and the smaller man.



“I brought you both your new uniforms.”  He gave Jou a cold smirk before turning hot, acquisitive eyes to Yugi.  “I thought he was hot last night, but it was hard to tell.”



“Screw you, ya asshole. We ain't workin' for you.”  Jou defended their position heatedly.  Yugi, wide awake and scared out of his mind, stood behind Jou, using Seto's leather coat to shield him from the lusty gaze.



Hiata's smirk widened.  “Your father says you will.” A hard edge tipped his smile. “Take them and try them on.  I think they might be a little big on you.”  He threw a paper bag at Jou's chest only to watch as it bounced off and fell to the floor. Rage twisted his features.  “Pick them up and try them on or you will be very... sorry.”



Jou tensed, ready to attack the bastard and beat him to death with his bare hands. Only Yugi’s grip on his arm held him back.  Urgently, the smaller man shook his head, whispering, “No Jou...”  When he was sure his friend wouldn't attack, Yugi bent and scooped up the bag.  “C'mon Jou let's go try these on.  It won't hurt.”



Jou glared a promise of murder at Hiata before dragging Yugi into the kitchen.  “We'll change in here.  I don't trust him not ta... search th' place.”  Glaring at nothing in particular, the blond ripped open the bag, dumping the contents on the table.



“Holy fuck.  No goddamn way we're wearin' that shit at Boozee.  We'd be gang raped.”  Jou breathed as he saw the 'uniforms.'  Black and white zebra-striped, groin-pouched and zippered front and back, leather shorts, so short that Jou knew he'd have to shave his already well trimmed pubes to keep them from poking out.  That was all, no shirt, no hat, no anything.  Just zebra striped leather.  And judging by their size, at least two sizes too small for either of them.



“No fucking way.”  Jou erupted in a loud yell, unknowingly echoing Seto's yell. Jou meant he wasn't wearing them; Seto's snarl was that they weren't wearing them for anyone but him.  Yugi was a voice of reason calling them back from their rage, but his voice was distant and fading.  It wouldn't take much to push either of them over the edge.



“Jou it's okay.  Remember it's part of our plan.  This doesn't mean anything.  We wear as little at the beach.  We'll just watch out, do what we have to, and get out as soon as possible.”  He soothed softly.  “We just have to hold it together until we get rid of... it.”



Jou gulped back his rage and after a few minutes picked up the largest pair of shorts with a hand that shook with suppressed emotion.  “Yer right.  But when this is all over with I'ma kick his ass into next year.  I swear it.”



Yugi nodded “We'll do whatever we have to and then handle him when we are safe.” Yugi slid out of his pants and underclothes, and slipped on the shorts.  Sucking in his belly, he carefully zipped the pouch, wincing slightly at the way it cupped his sac and cock too tightly.



Jou tore his gaze away from his best friend and stripped down as well, sliding in to the shorts with a bit more difficulty.  Not only was he larger, but he was sticky from a particularly erotic dream he'd been having when he'd been woken so rudely.  Wet dreams were good while you were having them, but cleaning up after them could be a pain.  He only hoped Yugi hadn't noticed the wet stain on his jeans.  He should have known better.



“Jou...”  Yugi's face was dark red, but his eyes were glued on the sticky mess. “You uh... do you need to clean up more?”



Jounouchi flushed dark red.  “Nah, Kaiba's coat caught most of it.  I was poked out of my pants.”  He tugged at the zipper, pulling it closed gingerly over the pouch. Growling he stared at the handful of dark blond pubes sticking out.  “Damn I knew I'd have to shave more.



“Jou why... what...”



He knew what his best friend was asking, normally he would dance around the subject, but right now he was just too damn angry and frustrated, not to mention afraid. “You were in my arms and Kaiba's coat, with his scent, was all around me.  The two hottest guys I know were with me and you wonder why I had a wet dream?  Fuck Yugi, you've been around.  Don't play dumb.  Ya know yer hot.”



Yugi's face burned darker, but a sudden hentai smile lit his face.  “That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me.”  Tossing Jou a flirtatious glance, he turned and strolled out the door swaying his hips just that tiny bit that used to drive Atemu crazy.  He didn't get one step outside the door before Jou passed him in a streak of blond fury and challenge, stepping between him and Hiata.



The bar owner had made himself at home, sitting on the couch and putting his feet up on the table. When they came in, he rose slowly, dragging his feet across the table, deliberately making sure to scuff the wood with his shoes.  “Well, well. You look good enough to eat.”  He smirked cruelly.  “I've never cared for blond's... too stupid to train.  But you...”  He circled behind Yugi. “You're a prime fuck-slave.  I'll have you tonight.  By the time I'm done, you'll beg me for it.” His lewd gaze covered every inch of Yugi's body.



Seto stared in a red haze as the bar owner described what he'd do to Yugi then let out a feral growl like that of a lion felling a gazelle when the man actually reached out and laid his hands on Yugi's ass.  Jou's move to break the hold of the other man was nearly instantaneous, but still not fast enough.  Seto's hand had whipped out his phone and was dialing as quickly as the device would allow.  It was answered on the second ring.



“Kaiba-san, this is an unexpected event.”  The soft voice greeted.  Of course it was.  Kaiba Seto didn't associate with Yakuza criminals unless it was absolutely necessary.



Rage controlling his actions even as his iron will forced appropriately polite responses, he returned equally soft,  “Regretfully Morimatsu-san, I must inform you that one of your family has insulted what is mine, has touched what is mine.  This is unacceptable.”  He rasped, his control slipping just enough to show the seething anger behind the control.



There was a heartbeat of silence then, “Perhaps you would explain further so I might assist you, perhaps make restitution?”



“Mosuri Hiata, owner of Boozee, has insulted my lovers, laid hands on my lovers.  The insult is... grave.”



Morimatsu gripped his phone tightly.  Mosuri Hiata was one of his bottom feeders who had been making noises about moving up.  Morimatsu had been considering it based on an improvement in performance and profit at Boozee. It seemed that in aid of that improvement his underling had grievously overstepped with Kaiba Seto's lovers.  The potential profit was not enough to risk angering the richest man in Japan. “I see.  Then I hope for a chance to balance the scale.  I would satisfy the weight of justice myself if that is acceptable?”



Seto could barely contain himself.  He wanted to crush the other man to bloody powder for daring... ”His hands touched what is mine...  His tongue insulted them... He frightened them, threatened them with rape, slavery and death.  Justice must be met on every point.”



The elder Yakuza hissed out a breath.  “I never knew Hiata to be this unwise.  I apologize and give you my word that I will see to this personally.”



“Before midnight.”  Seto growled and hung up the phone.  He didn't trust himself not to demand Haita be fed through a wood chipper – alive.



Morimatsu bowed his head and thought for a few moments, then sighed and called in his most trusted associates.  He wanted their advice on how to appease the ravening dragon that Kaiba Seto hadn't quite controlled enough to hide.  He had no doubt that if the scales were not balanced, he would find himself and his family facing that wild, fire-breathing creature.  He doubted anyone would escape without severe burns.



Seto watched, his rage and trembling need for action barely leashed as Jou continued to dance around, keeping between Hiata and Yugi.  The foul man did not lay hands on Yugi again.  But that only meant that Jou was getting the brunt of his touches.  That fact went down even worse than his advances to Yugi.  The only thing that saved every stick of office furniture in the room was Jou knocking the touches away with a violence that was marginally satisfying.



His killing rage lasted until Jou had finally had enough and physically threw the asshat out the door and Yugi, still wearing that obscenely sexy pair of shorts, sank down on the couch, asking, “What are we going to do Jou?”



“It's like ya said Yugi.  We gotta play along until we can put the body in the big dumpster behind th' bar.”



Yugi turned dead white.  “Play along?  You want me to...”



“Fuck no!”  Jou reassured his friend quickly.  “I'll keep him away from ya.”  He promised.  “In fact, after we move Otogi's car inta position why don't you take off?   Don't even go to th' bar.  I'll handle Hiata.  You go ta dinner, make an alibi across town or somethin'.”



“I won't let you do that Jou!  We're in this together.  I won't go get dinner while you... Dinner!”  Yugi broke off his tirade to gasp.  “Oh no!  Jou what are we going to do?  Seto wants to take us to dinner tonight.  He said he'd see us later.”



Jou smiled grimly. “That's perfect.  You go ta dinner with him and I'll handle the rest.”



“I won't.”  Yugi was adamant.  “I'm calling him right now.”  He pulled out his cell phone and scrolled through his contacts list.



“You have his phone number?”  Jou asked blankly.  His cracked heart breaking like blown glass thrown to the ground by a careless hand.



Yugi didn't notice.  He was too busy calling Kaiba.  Seto saw the anguish cross Jou's features and growled at his own stupidity.  He should have given Jou his number long ago. Well giving would have been too obvious, but making sure the other man could reach him if needed.  Opening his phone, he voice commanded the phone to dial Jounouchi's number.  Just because Jou didn't have his number didn't mean he didn't have the blonde's.  He watched the monitor as a tiny ringtone played and Jou dashed into the kitchen.  At the same time his phone signaled a call on coming in. He hit ignore just as a breathless Jounouchi answered his phone. “Moshi Moshi.”



“Jounouchi.” He kept his greeting brief.



“K...Kaiba?”  It was not nice of him, but he found Jou's sputter and wild look around the room hilarious.



“Yes.  I hope I didn't call at a bad time?”



“No.. I mean... Well Yugi was just calling you.”



“Perfect timing then.  Was he calling about my coat?  I believe I left it there this morning.”



“Ah... oh... well no.  Uhm he... uhm about dinner and...”



“About that.  I'm going to have to take a rain check.  Something's come up and I will be busy from about five tonight until probably after midnight.”  He waited for a second then added, “I'd hoped you would both agree to come for a late lunch with me when I come by to pick up my coat.”



“L...Late lunch?”  Jou was still sputtering.  “Buh... I uhmmm..”



“Don't worry I know you haven't had time to grocery shop.  I'll take you to a nice little place.  It's casual, but the food is good and plentiful.”  He chuckled slightly as he heard a distinctive rumbling, from both the surveillance camera and the phone.  “Guaranteed to silence your growling stomach.”



“Hey that's...”



“No time for banter or flirting right now.”  Seto couldn't resist the tease.  “If we're going for a late lunch, I have to get a few things done here.  See you in an hour.  Remember to dress casual.”  Seto hung up before Jou could gather his scattered wits.



Yugi strolled into the kitchen holding his cell phone. “He didn't answer.” Seeing his friend's frenzied expression, concern clouded his features. “What's wrong Jou?”



“That was Kaiba. He... canceled dinner and wants to take us to a late lunch when he comes by to pick up his coat. Some work came up tonight.” He shook his head violently, sending his disheveled hair into his face. “He didn't give me a chance ta say no. He's gonna be here in an hour.” At Yugi's strangely glassy look Jou shrugged. “He says to dress casual.”



Yugi, blank look gone, smiled impishly. “Casual isn't going to be an issue, but Jou, how are you going to get the cum stains off his coat?”



Seto, watching with an amused smirk from his penthouse, murmured, "Don't bother on my account..." before spinning on his heel and stalking out the door. He had a lot to do and very little time to get it done. Thank god he was not only rich, but organized. He only hoped that either Jou or Yugi figured out that come doesn't stain leather like his coat. And hopefully they left enough for him to enjoy...



Yugi, after calming the hyperventilating Jou with promises to remove the stain from Seto's coat, shooed the still panting blond into his bedroom to clean up and dress, explaining, “Jou you smell like sex and I'm sure he'll notice. Take a quick shower and wash the essentials. I'll handle the coat so that he'll never see a stain. Relax and shower!”  The blond scampered off, realizing Yugi was right and trusting his best bud to handle the coat.



With a grimace of distaste, Yugi slipped the zebra-striped shorts off and dressed hurriedly into his jeans and t-shirt. He was fanning the leather coat to help it dry when Jou came out of the bedroom. “Hey...”



“It came out fine. You have great aim. If he'd been wearing it you would have caught him on the cheek or mouth. You must have had it pulled across your lap.”



“Yeah I did.” The blond gave a hentai grin. “I was dreamin' that he was givin' me head while you fucked me, so that's about right.”



While Yugi was red-faced and speechless, the doorbell rang shrilly. Jou, to give his friend a break, strolled over and peeked through the Judas hole. He'd learned his lesson with Hiata earlier. “Kaiba...” He swung the door open. “Yer early.”



“One of my errands is actually between here and the restaurant. It's more expedient if we stop on the way.” He smiled at Yugi and nodded slightly “My coat.”



“Oh, uh, sure.” The red-faced man crossed to hand it to him. “What's your errand?”



He slid on his coat and hustled them out to his waiting car, explaining “My tailor. I've had a growth spurt while in the states and need a new wardrobe. My clothes are getting too tight across the shoulders and chest.” He slid into his seat.



Jou insisted Yugi take the front seat while he took the back. He was determined that if he couldn't have Kaiba then Yugi should.



“R...Really?” Yugi's eyes traced over him. “Yes I can see it. Can you Jou?”



Jou made a grunt that sounded like an affirmative.



“Although I won't be getting rid of this coat any time soon.” Seto mused, his voice taking on a deeper note, almost purring.



“Oh...it's new?” Yugi asked, but his eyes were dancing with amusement. He had a feeling he knew the reason.



“No, but it smells... incredibly good. A mix of spice and musk I've never smelled before.” A quick slash of blue eyes first at the blond in the back seat then over at the spike-haired man.



“It smells like both of you.” A small teasing grin flashed across his lips. “Did you guys sleep on my coat?”



While Jou stammered incoherently, Yugi gave him a blushing smile. “Used it as a blanket for our nap. It kept us both very warm. We had good dreams.”



“Next time call me and we can share.” Was all Seto said. But his expression was pure sin, one that he shared with his cousin Atemu. Yugi had no doubt in his mind that sleep was the furthest thing from Kaiba's mind. Jounouchi was right; Kaiba was lusting, but it wasn't just for him. If he read the brunet correctly, and he'd done a lot of Kaiba reading as a duelist and a friend, Kaiba Seto wanted them both. As soon as the thought dawned, images of what could be filled Yugi's head and he had to look away, knowing that Kaiba would see his face and know in an instant what he was thinking. He wasn't sure  how he felt about it and didn't to want Kaiba to know his thoughts.



Seto's voice brought him from his abstraction. “We'll only be at my tailors for a few minutes. Do either of you need anything while we're there? I know that you've just moved Jounouchi, and that a dinner suit is the last thing you've thought about, but when I take you both to dinner I want you to be comfortable and I want it to be a special evening.” He gave Yugi a questioning glance. “Clothes for you must be difficult as well. You are so beautifully shaped, masculine and strong, yet almost feminine in your size. Do you have a dinner suit or...”



Yugi lowered his head to hide his shame. His small form was the bane of his existence and made getting decent 'adult' clothes almost impossible. Of course he didn't have a dinner suit. The tux he'd rented for prom had been a nightmare of ill fitting silk and he never wanted to go through that embarrassment again.



A tender hand brushed through his hair, lifting his head “Nothing to be embarrassed about. You're beautiful and you know it.  Why don't you both talk to my tailor and if you want to order something for our date then great. He can have it ready in two or three days. If you're not comfortable, then we won't discuss it again.” And I'll be looking for a new tailor as my current one will be looking for a new vocation.



“Oi Kaiba, I can't afford no fancy...”



Seto actually turned his head and smiled at Jou. “I have a standing account for a certain number of suits. I never order the full amount. You would be helping me get value for my money if you ordered something.  Mokuba isn't here to use my extra.  I pay the same no matter how many suits I order.”



“Bu...”  Jou started to protest only to shut his mouth when Yugi interrupted. “Jou think of it like when Anzu gets a meal at Burger World she doesn't want.  They give it to her because she earned it, but she's not hungry or whatever.   How many times has she given the meal to one of us rather than let it get thrown out.”  Yugi gave him a quick look over his shoulder.  “It's the same thing.”



Seto gave the spike-haired man next to him a quick, assessing glance.  Not only was he hot, but Yugi knew how to handle the prickly blond's stubborn pride.  He definitely would be a good addition to his and Jou's relationship. With Yugi around it won't be near as rocky.  Still fiery, but adding a dimension of compromise they both normally lacked.  



Jounouchi subsided, obviously thinking about what his friend had said.  With a sigh, he muttered, “Okay if it's like dat I'll think about it.”  He glared at Seto, but with no true anger or defensiveness. “But ya ain't tellin' me what ta get, Moneybags.”



Seto quelled his smile and murmured smoothly, “Wouldn't dream of it.”  And he wouldn't.  He trusted his tailor to steer the golden blond in the direction of good taste and style.  With a deft turn, he parked in the spot marked 'Reserved' without a qualm.  It was reserved for him after all.  He didn't think that Yugi and Jou would be impressed with his money, but he did want to show them that having a rich patron had it's perks.  Convenient parking and nice clothes were a few.



Yugi's jaw dropped slightly when he saw where they were.  “Tribeka?  You shop Izzey?”



“Tri-what?”  Jou was staring up at the store's cutting edge facade.  English wasn't his strong suit and reading the Romanji was hard.



Seto gave them both a slight smile as he slid out of the car.  “Hop out.  Tribeka is my designer's ready to wear store.  He's working here today and has agreed to do my measurements now.”  At Yugi's very audible gulp, he grinned.  “Not that I wear ready-to-wear clothes very often.  I find his ready-made stuff a little too... avante guarde for my needs.  But I'm sure you guys can find something.”  He waited for them on the crowded sidewalk and as they came abreast him, he took their arms in a show of 'camaraderie.'  It had nothing to do with pride in ownership, nothing at all.



An anorexic-thin, young woman with straight black hair and obviously enhanced full lips greeted them as soon as they swished through the door.  “Kaiba-san!  Izzey is in the upper workroom waiting for you and your … companions.  While you are being measured, I will show them around if you like?”



Seto never settled for second string.  “Izzey will handle it.”  He didn't bother to thank her.  She hadn't offered out of any sense of customer service, but because she wanted a chance to design for ~The~ Kaiba Seto and if she couldn't get that then she would take the opportunity to design for his 'friends.'



Izzey, a short, plump, dynamically energetic man in his twenties, yelled at her from the top of a large spiral staircase .“Stop trying to suck up and get back to work on those drawings.  You've barely made it to mediocre.  I'm expecting brilliance.” Smiling down at his famous customer and his guests, he nodded briskly. “Get up here.  Neither of us has a lot of time.  I'm preparing for Paris and you're... always busy.” The designer huffed and spun away, disappearing in the glass and brass depths of his 'work area,' waving for them to come up.



Still holding his 'friend's' arms, Seto ushered them upstairs and into an explosion of colors and patterns.  Seto wasn't impressed or surprised.  Every time he'd come to Izzey's workroom, he found it a dizzying array of sights.  Bolts of cloth were lined up neatly along one wall arranged by color and patterns within each color.  Around the room wire-mesh, plastic, and wooden mannequins stood draped in cloth, some obvious designs and others swatches of color with no discernible pattern or design.  The colors ranged from dull brown to neon pink with shades and patterns in almost every conceivable variation, from checks to star bursts.  On more than one occasion, Seto had put on his sunglasses to tone down the assault on his eyes.

 

Izzey glanced at them, his eyes shrewd and a little amused.  With a flick of his wrist, he closed the privacy curtain around his creative fishbowl of a loft.  “There you are, Kaiba.  You know the drill.” Giving the others a quick grin, he gestured to the mannequins and bolts of cloth.  “Why don't you two look around while I measure Kaiba.”



Yugi nodded and turned to look at the bolts of leather.  Jou gave Seto a quick glance, obviously unsure. But what he saw made him gasp and take a step back. “Kaiba what da fuck are ya doin?”  



Seto, in the act of unbuttoning his shirt, gave the blond a curious look that quickly changed to sparkling mirth.  “Getting undressed.  How is he going to take my measurements if I'm in my clothes?”  He laid his shirt aside, toed off his loafers, and unbuttoned his trousers.



“But... but... but...”  Jou tried to protest, but his verbal skills diminished with every inch of skin Kaiba bared.  By the time Seto was down to his tiny, dark blue, silk thong, Jou's breath was erratic, his cheeks were cherry-red, and his voice not even a memory.  Seto was gratified to see the wide golden eyes fixed on him with an expression a starving man at a feast would wear.  He was also aware that Yugi, while not staring with the same uncontrolled hunger Jou displayed, was stealing looks from beneath his lowered lashes even while he pretended interest in the supple leathers he was unconsciously stroking.



Izzey, amused and appreciative of the dramatically tense atmosphere, none-the-less decided business was business. He had to measure his customer - without having to make adjustments due to physical... changes. Of course, he would add a bit more room on the inseam because it seemed that Kaiba would need that little extra give - especially with these two. Two! Gorgeous ones and so different at that. Kaiba was truly blessed.



“If you are going to be measured, get undressed.  If not, please give us some privacy.”  He rebuked the blond and earned a slight glare from his client.



That shook Jou out of his haze.  “I...uh.... Undressed?  Ya mean... Oh I...”  He sputtered and took two very large steps back, bumping into a shiny black plastic mannequin draped in sheer white cotton.  “Nah dat's okay... I uhm... commando ya know?  So I'll pass.”  He blurted, then turned an even darker red as he realized what he said.  Horribly embarrassed, Jou collided with the mannequin again, this time knocking it over.  In a panic to catch it, his feet tangled with the tissue-thin white cotton and with a loud rip, he went tumbling after it, ensnared hopelessly with the yards of cloth and ending with the mannequin positioned very suggestively between his legs.



Yugi eeped and ran over to the fallen blond, making small concerned sounds that barely stifled his laughter.  Kaiba didn't bother to pretend concern and laughed outright.  The designer, a veteran of many clumsy clients, simply sighed and made a mental note to add a few yards of the cloth to the bill.



Jounouchi, embarrassed more than he'd ever been in his life, simply groaned and tried to make the white cotton his shroud because surely he was going to die from this.  The embarrassment was going to make him blush so hard he would pop a vessel and die any second.  At least if he was dead he wouldn't have to deal with a best friend getting together with the love of his life, the dead body in his freezer, or an ex-boss who was going to try to turn him into a whore or worse.



While Jou waited for death to take him, Izzey got busy. "Kaiba, hold out your arms and stand up straight." Using the notepad designated specifically to Kaiba, he started making notes. "Hmm... You've gotten taller by a couple of centimeters. Your chest is significantly broader, as are your shoulders. Your waist and hips are the same, although you have more definition so I'm going to assume you've been working out."  Opening his cloth measuring tape, he dropped to his knees.  “Spread your legs a little.” Unaware of the wide golden eye that squinted through a white shroud and a pair of suddenly staring amethyst eyes that whipped around to stare, he continued his work.  



“Hmmm.  Most of your growth has been in your legs.  Lucky Kaiba.  I know some models who would kill to have your long, strong legs. Your inseam is... larger than is desirable so you could never model because large penes and testes ruin the line of clothes.  Not anything to complain about though since you don't model.”  Tilting his head slightly towards Yugi, he murmured for Kaiba's ears only “Although there is such a thing as too big.  You'll want to be careful for a while.”



Seto gave him a cool, enigmatic look that managed both secrecy and smugness. He wasn't going to say a word to confirm or deny anything simply because there was nothing to confirm or deny. "Hnnn... I don't need your advice. I need clothes."



The designer just grinned and went back to measuring his feet.  Shoes and socks or stockings always completed a look.  He refused to compromise.



Yugi unstuck his eyes from Seto's lean, sexy body and turned to help his friend untangle himself from the mannequin and shroud.  “C'mon Jou, lets look around.  If we find somethin', we will have to get fitted too.”



“Ferget it  Yugi.”  Jou mumbled through the cotton.  “I ain't getting naked here.  Uh uh, no way Jose.”



Without looking up from where he was measuring the arch of Kaiba's foot, Izzey ordered. “Yugi - forgive the familiarity, but I don't know your family name - on the work bench right behind is a pile of flesh-toned thongs.  The models wear them so they don't spoil my lines or conflict with my designs.  You may each have a pair.  They will be my gift to you as my new customers.”



Yugi, his eyes flaring mischievously, turned and picked up a few of the mentioned garments.  “Wow, these are really nice.  And Jou they will fit under our...”  Cough, cough “Costumes tonight.  So we...”



Jou was untangled and standing upright in less than a heartbeat.  That was one subject he didn't want mentioned anywhere around Kaiba.  “Yugi...”



Yugi's expression was a mix of innocence and apology.  “See?”  He held out the scraps of sheer, netted nylon.



“Costumes?”  Seto knew what Yugi was referring too, so he didn't ask.  But Izzey did.  He was a designer after all and if there was a costume party of the rich and famous, it was a huge faux pas on his part not to know about it – be represented in it.



Jou flinched, but rallied quickly.  “We're helpin' out a... uhm... a... friend at his bar.  He wants us ta dress up in short shorts to serve the customers.”  He tried to say it casually, but his voice came out hurried and broken, giving lie to his words.  It was obvious that it wasn't something the blond wanted to discuss.



“I see.”  The designer said it only to be polite.  He really didn't and he was sure he didn't want to know. Whatever the other two were talking about had Kaiba turning to stone under his hands.  A quick glance upwards told him that even though Izzey heard the unmistakeable sound of teeth gritting, Seto’s features stayed smooth and unmoving.  Whatever the other two were doing seriously upset Kaiba. “Relax Kaiba.  You're making this more difficult than it has to be,” he mumbled softly.



For a moment, he thought the brunet didn't hear him then he could feel his client relaxing one muscle at a time.  There was an awkward pause then he was surprised to hear Seto remark, “You'll like those.  I have several pair.  They cup and support without constricting.  I even wear them under my swimsuit. Much better than the netting in some swimsuits.”



“Really?”  Jou took one of the fluttering scraps from Yugi's suddenly clenching fingers.  Holding it at eye level, the blond squinted at it.  “Wouldn't think it'd give dat much support.  'Specially if yer as big as that guy...” he jerked his chin toward the designer. “Is right about ya packin' lumber.”



Yugi nodded in agreement.  “It seems kind of fragile.  Won't it rip?”



Seto couldn't resist, he quirked an eyebrow challengingly.  “Why don't you come check it out.  I'm wearing one of the same style, only blue.”



That made Jou sputter and his barely normal color burn dark red again, but he didn't step back.  In fact, he dropped his eyes down to where the designer's kneeling body blocked his view of the undergarment. Yugi surprised everyone by stepping forward, coming to stand next to Izzey.  With a finger that was curious and just a little naughty, he traced the thin waistband across Seto's hip bone and around to the base of his spine.  “The waistband is stronger than it looks.  Jou, come check it out.”  Not a hint of blush colored Yugi's cheeks.  It was as if Seto were one of the mannequins stationed around the room.



Jou gulped and his gaze shot up to Seto's face.  Instead of finding Seto looking down at Yugi with that spark of lust he'd seen earlier, the dark blue eyes met his look with a stare of absolute challenge.  He was daring Jou to come and examine him.  He could see the doubt and the amusement, as well as an invitation too blatant to miss deep in that stare.  Rising to the challenge in more ways than one because Seto was gazing at him... HIM... not Yugi, Jou crossed to stand on the other side of Izzey.



The designer, far from being unaware, knew it was time to move.  There was too much testosterone and... something... in the air and he had no place in it.  Silently, he scooted back and stood up, backing away from the threesome.  He would take the measurements into his cut and sew room, and plug it into the computer while his two new customers judged the strength and fit of Kaiba's underwear.



Yugi removed his fingertips from Kaiba's underwear by simply sliding them higher to rest on the curve of his waist.  Deliberately, he stroked them over the soft skin, enjoying the firm play of muscles beneath.



Seto caught his breath when Yugi started to caress him, absolutely stunned by the boldness.  But if he was stunned by that, he was horrified to see Jou had seen it as well and was drawing a very off center conclusion.  He was backing away from the challenge Seto had sent him.  Wanting the blond to understand, Seto reached out and caught Jou's hand, bringing to his hip.  “Well?”



For a second the smaller man tensed, then slowly, as if it were against his will, the calloused, tan fingers explored his hip, playing with the elastic band, sliding beneath it, tracing the inner edge, only to retreat shyly before invading more intimate territory.  Seto relaxed into both touches, openly welcoming them.  They loved and wanted him.  It was about time he showed them he... wasn't adverse to more than 'friends.'  Arching slightly, he tried to show that he wouldn't mind a... more thorough exploration and was surprised when Jou snapped the band at his hip, stinging him slightly and making him jump before the blond stepped away.



“Yeah it looks like it'll support me I suppose.  Thanks Kaiba.  Ain't most guys who let people check out their underwear, especially while they're wearing it..”  Giving a big grin, Jou grabbed Yugi's elbow and pulled him away.  “C'mon Yugi, lets check out the cloth an' let him get dressed.  I'm likin' that green with th' yellow stripes.  Kinda cool and neon like.  A suit of that would get a lot of attention.”



Yugi gave Seto a mysterious smile over his shoulder and let Jou lead him away.  Izzey, hearing that comment about a green and yellow suit, stuck his head out of his cut and sew room and called, “I will be right there!  Use this room to get into your thongs.  After you change, I'll try different color swatches against your skin so we don't make a mistake.”  Giving Yugi's unique, tri-colored hair a quick glance, he smiled gamely.  This could be a challenge.



Yugi, catching his glance, smiled sweetly. “Should I untuck and untape?  Or would you prefer me to stay tucked?”



“Tucked?  Taped?”  For a moment he was stumped, then realization dawned.  “Oh hum... well how do you normally go about?”



“Depends on what I'm wearing and where I'm going.  If I'm at home or in comfortable clothes I don't tuck.  But when I go out, if I'm wearing leather or anything tight enough to cause friction I tuck.”  Yugi shrugged at the odd look he was getting from everyone in the room.  “I think all my growth spurts went to my dick.  It's bigger than... well if I don't tuck it looks like I have a baton stuffed in my pants.”  He had the grace to flush slightly.  “People stare and some girls want to grope.”



That made the designer's eyebrows lift, Seto snirk and Jou's eyes to widen slightly.  Again, Izzey saved the day.  “Well if it's that big of an issue, I'll measure both ways starting with tucked and then untucked.”  Smiling slightly, he motioned them to go change.



Seto moved to follow, but was stopped by Izzey.  “What do you think of this embossed white Georgette with maroon embossed trim for Yugi?  And what about this amber trimmed in aged copper for the one called Jou?”  Seeing the frown, the designer smiled slightly. “Your friends, especially the blond, would not enjoy classic power colors Kaiba.  White will give a backdrop to Yugi's unique hair, while the maroon will match and contrast it.  The amber will highlight Jounouchi's eyes while the aged copper green will accentuate the gold of his hair and skin.  Neither is feminine and the designs will be cutting edge without being trendy.  I assure you, you will not be dissatisfied.”



“Hnn...”  He tried to picture it and only half succeeded. Normally it wouldn't be a problem, but at that particular moment Jounouchi stepped into the room wearing only the sheer mesh thong.  The half formed image disappeared like a popped soap bubble to be replaced with the real-life wet dream standing awkwardly by the cut room door.  Seeing his gaze, the blond blushed and crossed his arms over his chest defensively.  “Yugi is having trouble with a couple of his buckles.  You... where do you want me?”



Seto stifled the urge to yell 'Right HERE, Right NOW,' and simply shut his mouth – which he belatedly realized had fallen open to accommodate his suddenly panting breaths.  Who knew...okay he knew... but he'd never been in the room with... never been this close.  Fuck, he was acting like a virgin on his first date.  “Jounouchi...”  He rasped, then cleared his throat to try again.  “Jounouchi, about the yellow and green...”



Jou stiffened slightly.  He'd known it, rich boy was trying to dictate to them.  He could take his clothes and shove them up his ass.  “What abou' it?”



“I was wondering if you'd like a Yukata in that cloth.  It's very festive and would liven up private parties, particularly at the holidays.  Izzey says that there isn't enough left for a suit, as the color would require a longer than normal jacket, but there is plenty for a Yukata.”  Seto made up on the spot.  He didn't bother to glance at Izzey.  The man knew who paid the bills after all.



“Yes, that is true.”  The designer chimed in.  “Most of what you see here is spoken for.  I'm making some costumes for a dance troupe and the cloth was ordered for them.  I should have just enough to make you a Yukata.”



Jou, primed and ready for battle, relaxed slightly.  “Yeah?  Too bad it's pretty nice.”  He actually thought it was something a clown would wear and mentioned it simply to test Kaiba's intentions.  “But that's okay.  I... don't think that shade of green would go with my hair.”



Izzey nodded. His hands armed with two fresh notebooks, several swatches, a pen and measuring tape, he began measuring Jounouchi.  Seto pretended to look around at the mannequins for a few seconds, then crossed to stand behind the designer, allowing his eyes to rove over Jounouchi as the other man did his job.  To calm his hormones and distract him from the tempting blond, Seto decided to make conversation.  It wasn't his best skill, but he was sure he could come up with something that avoided sensitive topics.  “So... You're helping out a friend tonight?  In costume?  If you need to wear a thong, they must be...interesting costumes.”  Open mouth, insert size twelve.  He really needed to work on his small talk.



“Yeah it's a bar.  So it's gonna be short-shorts with zebra stripes.  I think they're ugly, but Hiata's the boss so whatever he says goes.”



“Ugly?”  Seto allowed the memory of Jou and Yugi dressed in the costumes to play through his mind.  “I'm sure in the right environment they would be hot.”  His bedroom being the only environment they would ever be 'right' in.  While Jou was blushing and trying to stammer out a coherent response, Yugi stepped into the room clad only in his flesh-toned thong.



Seto barely contained his approving hum. Seeing them side-by-side was enough to cause a severe strain on his very supportive thong. To disguise his very obvious reaction, he turned and picked up a length of plum satin embroidered with chrysanthemums in dramatic gold, black, silver and pink. It was quite beautiful. But it didn’t hold a candle to the sight of Jou and Yugi almost completely naked and fully displayed with such mouth-watering, dick-hardening abandon.



Jou blinked down at his best friend, a little surprised at the developed musculature and complete lack of any kind of shyness or blush. More than a little curious, he let his eyes linger on the visible juncture of Yugi’s thighs. Sure enough he could make out the faint outline of the tape. Ashamed of himself for looking at his best friend’s ‘privates,’ he jerked his eyes back up to Yugi’s face, hoping his friend hadn’t noticed. No such luck. Yugi was watching him with wickedly laughing amethyst eyes and a mildly hentai smirk. Embarrassment painted his face red again and Jou jerked his eyes down to the floor, silently vowing not to be ‘that way’ with Yugi again.



Yugi, stifling his unholy glee at the embarrassment of his best friend, glanced around at the tall brunet just a few feet away. No embarrassment there, and not even the pretense of not checking them out. Kaiba was literally eating them with his eyes. Yugi shivered slightly and his smirk faltered as the hot blue gaze traveled over him, leaving hot little shivers in it’s wake. And even as the gaze left him to travel over Jou with even more need the shivers grew stronger. There was something incredibly erotic about knowing that Kaiba Seto found both him and his best friend hot enough that his body broke his iron control. Because, despite Kaiba’s move to hide his erection, Yugi had been watching for just that reaction. Seto had reacted to Jou, but not enough to completely rock him and break his self-mastery. He and Jou together had managed it effortlessly.



Once Yugi had regained his own briefly lost composure, he let Kaiba know he recognized his loss of control with a smug curve of his lips that was part knowing, part cunning and all sin.  Seto was too engrossed in devouring them with his eyes to notice and Jou... Jou was too busy being embarrassed. Yugi felt a surge of anticipation that he hadn’t felt in a very long time. He and Jou were more than a match for Kaiba. Now all Yugi had to do was convince Jou of that. He knew enough about Seto from his earlier observations that he didn’t think convincing the brunet of their intimate desirability necessary.



Jou thought he might hyperventilate. It was the weirdest, most embarrassing, hottest situation he’d ever been in. Kaiba Seto, his long time crush and the star of infinite wet dreams was standing before him wearing nothing but a thong. Not that it was obvious; the bolt of cloth he was examining obscured his nether regions, saving his modesty, but at the same time making him appear to be naked under a sheet of plum satin. If that wasn’t enough, his best friend and occasional star of many, many guilt ridden wet dreams stood next to him wearing practically nothing as well. It was too much for him and his poor beleaguered and long neglected libido. He just knew his cock, swelling despite his best efforts, was going to explode and he would die from sheer humiliation.



Moaning he turned to bolt back into the cut and sew room. When in doubt and fear for your life, run like hell. That credo had saved him many times and he wasn’t going to stop following it now.



He was stopped by two hands gripping him. Yugi’s on his right arm and Seto’s on his left shoulder. He flinched and tried to scramble away when Kaiba’s deep voice whipped out, “Izzey leave us.” He was barely aware of the designer scurrying away and down the stairs.



Unable to retreat, to hide his embarrassment, Jou snarled, “Lemme go! Kaiba yer...” That’s when he realized one of the hands holding him was Yugi. “Yug! Lemme go. What th’ hell...?”



Yugi sighed and shook back his bangs. “Jou you can’t run away and hide. We’ve both already seen. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”



Jou wasn’t going to risk looking at either of them. He didn’t want to see Kaiba’s ridicule or Yugi’s pity. “Just let me go,” he whispered. He was humiliated and shamed to his soul at his body’s reaction.



“Don’t be embarrassed Jou.” Yugi tried again. When Jou just scrunched his eyes shut and turned his face away, Yugi looked up at Seto then down at his body. Without another second’s hesitation, he grabbed Jou’s hand and pressed it to Seto’s very blatant erection. “Seto has the same issue. It’s nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed of. The only reason I’m not erect is because I’m taped and tucked. That makes the descent of connective tissue - and getting hard - almost impossible and very painful if it does start to happen.”



Jou sputtered and thought he was going to just melt into a puddle from embarrassment. Yugi was holding his hand against Kaiba’s... all thoughts came to a screeching halt as he realized that the dick he was holding was Kaiba’s and it was hard and thick and... His mouth watered and his heart, already beating double time, increased its thumping to dangerous levels. “Gyahhhh... Yugi... Dat’s... Kaiba’s dick.”



“I’m very well aware.” Yugi retorted dryly. Sometimes Jou was adorably and innocently hilarious, and completely clueless.



“Why... what... how...” Then realization dawned and the blond struggled to get away. “Fuck Yugi. Ya didn’t need ta... all ya had ta do was tell me ta get lost so you guys could be alone.”



“That would defeat the purpose.” Seto sighed and shook his head slightly. Jou should have realized that it was him Seto wanted most already.



“Whatcha talkin’ ‘bout Moneybags? Ya been all over Yugi all day. Now he’s naked and yer hard. Makes sense for me ta disappear. I got no place between ya.” Jou was stunned when both Seto and Yugi laughed at that.



“I’d argue that because I’ve come to realize that may be exactly where you belong,” retorted Seto thoughtfully.  “You’re more perceptive than I gave you credit for, but not perceptive enough.”  He shot a quick look at Yugi.  The other man’s expression was relaxed and encouraging.  “You failed to notice that it was you I came to see originally; I had no idea Yugi was even at your home.  It was only later that I began to realize that... things could be different.” An almost playful look entered Seto’s speculative gaze accompanied with a slight hentai curve to his lips before he added, “Don’t think I didn’t see your reaction to our attributes as well. I think it is pretty well established that we all consider each other to be rather attractive in certain ways.”



Yugi couldn’t resist translating that into something he knew Jou would understand right away.  “What he’s trying to say is that we all want to shag each other rotten.”



Jou was dead silent for a moment while his color fluctuated wildly.  Finally, he rasped out, “Ya know I’ve wanted him for years, Yugi.  And I know ya know I’ve always thought ya were hot.  But...“  He chanced a quick glance at the tall brunet.  “He didn’t get hard for me, Yugi.  He got hard for you.”  Squaring his shoulders, Jou swallowed back his feelings and tried to step back.  “So I’m outta dis.  I ain’t inta no pity fuck.”



“Jou that’s not...” Yugi started to protest only to swallow back his words as Kaiba took more immediate action and jerked the blond into his arms.



Seto had enough.  Jou loved him, he’d said so several times and Seto had made it plain that he was interested in allowing him to love him.  How much more blatant did he have to get? “Have you ever known me to show pity?  And I’d never want to be with someone I pitied.  I don't need the emotional crap that would come with that kind of relationship.”  At Jou’s wide-eyed, red-cheeked, frozen stance,

Seto tilted his head assessing.  



There was something off about Jou.  Fear was not an expression he was used to seeing on the feisty blond’s face.  “What is wrong with you?  What are you afraid of?”  When the blond jerked and writhed slightly, fighting to escape, Seto grunted and arched into the contact.  Damn it. Jou felt good even when it was an accident.  “Hold still or I’ll cum all over your stomach.”



Immediately, dark color surged into Jou’s face, neck and chest and the fear deepened in his eyes.  “What is your...” Seto broke off as an idea occurred to him.  “You... you have had sex?  You’re not a virgin, are you? You and Mai were a couple for months while in school and we all know that she’s got a reputation of being... open sexually.”  A polite way of saying easy or a slut, but he knew Jou had feelings for the woman so he didn’t want to insult her and potentially upset the blond.



Yugi was privy to most of Jou’s life experiences, but even he was in the dark about Mai.  He’d assumed they were sexually active, but his friend had never come right out and said they were.  Now he was beginning to believe the reason Jou had never mentioned sexual escapades was because he’d had none.  “You... Jou, you’re a virgin?”  He shot Kaiba a disbelieving look.  “Seto... but how?  I mean there is the legendary 'specials.'  What's going on?”  He was genuinely baffled.  Jou was so attractive and very open in his bi-sexuality.  Sometimes the vibes coming off Jou were so strong it was hard to be in the same room and not jump him.  Surely someone had... piqued his interest.



Jou was tired of being embarrassed and ashamed.  He had nothing to hide any more.  He had faced the worst and lived through it.  Kaiba knew about his feelings and he hadn’t died from it so the rest would be easy.  Clearing his throat, he explained softly, “I was too young.  Remember Mai was twenty four and I was sixteen.  She said it could wait until I was seventeen and legal.  She didn’t want ta go ta jail like my dad threatened.  Called her a pedo and a barracuda, but really it was cuz he was a miserable old jerk who didn't want me happy.  He was afraid I'd spend money on her and not give it to him.  So we decided to wait an’ after a few weeks she met Valon and decided not to wait anymore.  We’re still friends but we never even kissed 'cause my dad threatened her.”  Jou shrugged and sighed. “I ain’t met no one else I liked since, except well, yanno... you guys.  I mean sure I've... the specials an' all, but they didn't mean anythin' 'cept a minute's thing.”



“Never meant anything, hnnnn?  We can change that easily enough.” Seto jerked the semi-rigid blond close and pressed his lips firmly to Jou’s, holding him there just long enough for the blond to register what was going on. Seto’s hold relaxed and he took a deep breath as he stepped back slightly. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that, but I thought you preferred women.”  Smiling smugly, he flicked tongue over his lips to catch the lingering taste. "Sweet."



Jou gasped and gulped air in a vain attempt to calm his racing heart; he seriously needed to sit down or he was going to pass out. What the hell just happened?  Not in his wildest dreams had Seto ever ... ever...  just... kissed him casually, like he owned him or something.  And Yugi, his best buddy, had pressed up against him to help Seto hold him close instead of helping him get away ... it was almost as if Yugi approved of it and had wanted to share in the embrace. This was just too much for Jou’s already overwrought mind to process.  Dead father, blackmailing boss, and now horny, predatory guys.  He felt like someone had stuffed him in a blender and hit puree.  He expected his exploding brain to start leaking out his ear any second.



“K...Kaiba... Yu..Yugi...”  He choked faintly as he started to shake and gasp for air.  “I... I need ta... sit down.”  The world was spinning out of control and he could feel his gorge rising.



Concerned at the blond’s wildly erratic breathing and the pulse throbbing dangerously fast in the bruised hollow of his throat, Seto nodded to Yugi.  “Grab a chair from the cut and sew room.  Izzey can measure you while Jou relaxes and I get dressed.”



He turned towards the stairs and called, “Izzey come up here now, and bring some of that vitamin water you always have around.  Jounouchi is feeling a little dizzy.” Seto helped Jou to sit down in the chair Yugi dragged from the other room, his own mind processing the new information with surprising difficulty. Jou was a virgin, and probably a shy one at that. Seto’d always assumed otherwise given Jou’s history and previous well-known relationship. Yugi on the other hand appeared to be somewhat experienced and comfortable enough to display himself with minimal distress if not with a hint of pride in his well-toned, yet compact physique.  Yugi also appeared to be more open to a poly affair.  Not shocking considering he’d already been in one, but definitely not what he’d expected from the smaller man.



Izzey returned and gave them all a cautious look that turned to alarm when he saw Jou sitting in the chair with his head between his knees.  “Oh god he didn’t vomit did he?”  Visions of ruined fabric raced through his mind.  He handed the water bottle to Seto.



Seto held the chilled bottle against the back of Jou's neck in an attempt to cool and calm him.  “No, he’s just dizzy.  Low blood sugar; we haven’t had lunch yet and he didn’t really eat any breakfast.”  Giving the designer a look that brooked no denial, he ordered, “Get Yugi’s measurements, both sets, in the other room.  I’ll dress and look after Jounouchi.  When you’re done come out and get what you need from Jounouchi.”



“Oh uh... I already got his measurements; so, it’s just... Yugi’s.”



“Hnn...” was all Seto said as Yugi and Izzey left the room.  He handed the now upright blond the bottle of water and, keeping a concerned eye on him, dressed as quickly as possible.  Jou’s discomfort noticeably eased when his body was covered.  It disappeared entirely when a dressed Yugi came out just a few minutes later.  “Jou go in and get dressed.  Izzey went in the back to get some sketches to show us.”



Jounouchi was off like a rocket, a golden blond streak that left the chair teetering as he lifted off.  Seto smiled slightly and met Yugi’s somber gaze.  “Something?”



“You realize we are treading on dangerous ground with Jou, don’t you Seto?” Yugi took a couple of steps closer almost as if challenging the taller man. “Aside from Mai, I’m not really aware of him being in any other serious relationship and with what he just admitted to us, I’d say he’s pretty innocent. This - us - may be too much to expect from him right now.  Atemu and I were a couple for months before the subject of Anzu came up.”  He bit his lip thoughtfully.  “Why don’t he and I get together and in a few months see how we all feel?”



Seto laughed shortly at that.  Really, as if he’d let Yugi become Jou’s lover without him.  The midget was lucky to even be considered for poly between him and Jou.  “Why don’t I stick to my original plan of letting him prove his undying love for me?  We can always let you know when we’re ready to add another dimension - if that time ever comes.”



“You’re being recklessly selfish.  Jou isn’t sophisticated like you and his needs are going to be emotional.  Your emotional constipation won’t give him the support he needs.  You've never even come close to heartbreak or insecurity in a relationship.  I doubt you've ever loved anyone, but Mokuba in your life.”  Yugi took a deep breath and challenged directly, stepping up to the taller man toe-to-toe, completely ignoring their height disparity. “Back off and let me take care of him.  I want him as much as you do - possibly more because I know what love and loss is.  I’ll cherish him and his heart more than you ever will.  I love him and you don't know what that means!”



Seto took the challenge and fired back, stooping down to growl lowly, “And you don’t know what you’re talking about.  I’ve wanted him for years.  When I found out he wasn’t out of my reach, that he actually loved me, I was at his door within hours, ready to do whatever it took to be with him.  You back off!  I can give him anything he needs!.  He is mine and I will take care of him.”



In a rare show of rage, Yugi snarled as he rose on his toes to get in Kaiba’s face.  “No way.  You heartless, selfish...”



“Wow!”  Jou’s voice cut across their argument.  “You guys are fighting over me, but...”  He hesitated for a second then went on when he saw his audience had frozen at his interruption.  “Ya look like ya wanna kiss too.”  The newly-dressed blond’s eyes were wide, but there was no sign of the earlier shock.  “Well ya do, don’tcha?  Go ahead, I won’t stop ya.  I’m kinda curious how I’ll feel about it, yanno jealous or whatever.”



Jou had the pleasure of seeing both amethyst and blue eyes round to the size of saucers in shock before slamming shut as both dived into a kiss that Jou swore made Yugi’s hair bristle with electricity and Kaiba’s stand out like a cat’s for a few seconds.  It was Seto who broke the kiss, but Yugi turned to Jou and asked the billion yen question.  “Well?  How do you feel Jou?”



Jou was desperately trying to control his returning hyperventilation.  “Jeez.  Could ya get any hotter?  I mean... I know I used ta get a hard on watchin’ ya duel, but I thought that was cuz of th’ battle excitement or somethin’ but ... holy shit.  You guys are HOT together.  Why ain’t ya tried it before cuz even I can tell ya would set the sheets on fire.”



Yugi blushed, and Kaiba shrugged and glared.  Before either could answer, a shuffling sound came from the cut and sew room and a moment later Izzey walked out carrying a couple of large pads with multiple sketches on them.



The tension in the air settled down as the three younger men gathered around Izzey to examine the various designs he was considering. “Perhaps we should discuss the fabric selections first, just to get an idea of how much or little drape each of you prefer in your clothes.  We can also discuss color options in the event that your first choice is not currently available in a large enough quantity to complete the desired design.”



He looked at Jou directly when he said this as if to hint at his earlier mention of the green and yellow fabric. “I can also get a better feel for your tastes in clothes based on your fabric and color selections.” He said as he lay down the sketch pads and took the young men over to examine several bolts of fabric.  Addressing Jou, he lectured, “Your hair and skin tone assessment is not compatible to your original selection of neon shades.  Stripes are fun and can be used to liven up an otherwise plain suit, but in this case these stripes do not work on you.  It would be overpowering and distracting from who you are.”



Crossing to a colorful, but not neon, section of his cloth room he gestured, “What do you think of these fabrics? I think they would be far more flattering to you. I have some other fabrics in the far back, but they are too light weight for suiting material, they could be considered for shirts perhaps or even a yukata as Kaiba mentioned earlier.”



The blond looked over the dozen or so bolts of fabric that Izzey indicated, touching and studying each fabric thoughtfully. “I kinda like these three,” Jou said after several minutes. “Dark enough they won’t show stains too easy and they don’t look like they wrinkle too bad either.” Jou pulled out a rust colored fabric, another in a muted olive green, and the antiqued copper that Izzey had mentioned to Seto earlier. “I suppose if I did get a lighter color I’d probably pick this,” Jou said as he pulled out the amber bolt that almost matched his eyes. “And just so ya know, I always did kinda like them swirly designs ya see in dem fancy ties. I suppose if Seto’s gonna spring for a yukata I’d probably like somethin like that.”



“Excellent!  Exactly what I would have chosen for you.”  Smiling his approval and silently wondering if the atrocious taste for the neon hadn’t been a joke, Izzey turned to Yugi.



“Yugi, I suspect from watching you earlier that you tend to go for a heavier weight fabric and tend to darker or more intense colors. You will probably find something to your liking in this area, though I may be mistaken.” He lead Yugi to several bolts of leather and suede type fabrics as well as some heavier silks and woolens, all of them in deeper and darker colors. “Do you see anything that strikes your fancy? Of course we can coordinate a silk lining fabric once we have determined your final selections.”



Yugi nearly swooned as he caressed several bolts of the softest suede he’d ever felt, it was practically like caressing warm butter, the same with several of the medium weight leathers. It was obvious to everyone in the room that the smaller man had a distinct leather fetish and was in heaven just fondling the fabrics.



“Yugi?  Might I suggest a heavy charcoal silk suit trimmed in a dark ash leather?  Because formal suits in leather tend to look...”  He hunted for a good word and when he couldn’t find it gestured apologetically.  “Scandalously passe.”



Regretfully, Yugi rubbed the soft leather and stepped away.  “Okay Izzey.  Thank you for the advice.”  With a small shrug, he turned to the designer.  “I’d rather have true black leather trim with a dark wine silk.”



Izzey blinked a little at that.  Nobody ever contradicted him.  Asking the customer was usually a mere formality.  Most were ecstatic to receive his advice.  He was IZZEY!   Didn’t this... YUGI know that?  Didn’t he know the honor of just being ‘given’ a suggestion?  After a venomous glare, he turned to Kaiba ready to give a pointed recommendation to the tall brunet that he enlighten his friend.  Seeing the sharp blue eyes leveled on him with pure challenge, he swallowed back his complaint.  That look promised painful retribution if he upset Yugi.  “Wonderful choices.  Do you have any suggestion for your Yukata?  I suggest the embossed white with embroidered chrysanthemums in gold and black, perhaps some silver trim?  Cotton of course.”



Yugi scrunched his face slightly at the suggestion. “I like the color suggestion, but I don’t wear light colored clothes.  Perhaps if we reversed the black and white, but kept the overall design the same?”



Izzey nodded and made a note in the notebook designated for Yugi. “Are there any other preferences either of you would like to have taken into consideration as far as colors, patterns, styles, or fabrics?” He wanted to make sure that his suggestions would not go against the tastes of Kaiba Seto’s friends in the future.  He enjoyed his success and he had a feeling if he screwed this up he would find it fading fast.



Jou shrugged and Yugi just mumbled about dark and light colors in leather.  Seto smirked and gestured for the other two to head to the design table to look at the sketches.  With minimum fuss, they quickly selected the style options they preferred then looked to their host for guidance.



“We’ll stop by in two days to have a final fitting.  We’ll pick up the suits the next day.”  Ignoring incredulous look from the designer, Seto nodded briskly and ushered his ‘friends’ downstairs and out to the car.”



Jou settled in the back seat, leaving the front to Yugi.  There was a few minutes of silence then the blond asked, “So... ya gonna tell me about th’ argument?”



Yugi shook his head silently.  He didn’t want Jou to feel like he had to choose.  Seto had no such qualms.  “You're right, we were arguing over you.  But you're also right about us wanting to kiss each other.”  Seto darted a quick look between them then decided to lay it out for him.  “Yugi thinks you are too inexperienced to be interested in a poly relationship with both of us.  I think you should be allowed to make your own decision.”  He stopped at a red light and turned to give the blond a direct look.   “Before you get it into your head that we prefer to be together and you are an ‘extra,’ you should know that we both would give up the thought of each other to be with you.  There is no contest.  We both care for you more than we care for each other.  No matter how hot we might be for each other, it doesn’t compare to you.”  Turning back, he set the car in motion again.  “One more point.  I’ve wanted you for years.  I can count the amount of time I’ve been interested in Yugi as more than a rival in hours.”



Jou looked first at Seto then at Yugi and weighed what had just been said. “You didn’t trust me to make my own decision about a relationship Yug’?” His voice conveyed the hurt he felt.



Yugi sighed and said softly, “I just thought that you were too new to relationships -physically and emotionally - to handle a poly-amoury.  I didn’t mean to hurt you.”



“Yeah, and how am I supposed to get experienced enough to make that kinda decision on my own if ya never give me the chance? How am I supposed to get any experience at all if I don’t even get ta have a relationship with the guys I’m interested in.” A thoughtful pout clouded his expression as he turned to look out the window waiting for Yugi to answer his questions.



“Jou, I thought you were interested in me.  You’ve been making more and more sexual comments and a few times I thought that.... well that we could get together.”  Anxiously, Yugi whipped around to look at the golden-eyed blond.  “Was I wrong?”



“Yug, ya know yer hot and I love ya like mad, but ya also know I’ve had it bad for Kaiba for years. Sure I’d love ta be with ya, but I also wanna be with Kaiba. You shoulda given me a say in who I give my love to. Ya always told me how Mai was bad for me and did your best to talk me outta that relationship until she left me. Now you don’t even let me have a say in getting with the two guys I love most.”



Seto hid the smile he felt inside at how HE was in the clear and it was Yugi who had to defend his words and actions with the blond. He didn’t have the least sympathy for the erstwhile lover.  Yugi should have known better than to try to cut him out.



“I'm just trying to help you.  I know how badly this can go wrong from personal experience,” Yugi mumbled.



That caught Jou on the raw.  He could see where Yugi would not only want to protect Jou, but himself as well.  His last relationship had ended badly for him with Atemu leaving for the afterlife and Anzu dropping him because of 'memories.'  But still... “Thanks fer lookin' out for me Yugi, but I like ta decide stuff for m'self.  Even if I get hurt, I can handle it cuz... well cuz I'm kinda like a rubber ball.  I always bounce back.”  Sighing slightly, he shook his head.  “Are ya sure ya ain't worryin' you'll get hurt?  We ain't Anzu or Atemu.  I ain't gonna use ya an' hurt ya an' I don't think Kaiba will either.  If yer usin' me as a way ta hide from yer fears ya gotta stop it.”



Yugi let out a pained gasp and Seto gave the blond a surprised look.  Jou really was very perceptive.  That had never occurred to Seto.  Frowning he started to intervene only to be overridden by Yugi's protest.  “That's not it Jou.  It's just because you are so inexperienced.  I'm afraid you're not ready is all.”



Both golden and blue eyes looked at him doubtfully for a few seconds before Jou nodded and Seto turned his gaze back to the road.  Jou sighed and thought for a second.  “Well if dat's really all it is... Why don'tcha just give me experience.”



The car swerved wildly for a second at that and Yugi's eyes widened and bulged “What...”



Car back under control, but hormones still surging, Seto heatedly replied, “Gladly.” He smirked.  “I'll head back to the penthouse.”  

*** *** As noted earlier this fic is completely done. Lots of hugs and kisses Catto-dono and Mofaf1 - my two wonderful reviewers.