The Miracle Mutt

Author's Corner: Well this is going to be the last chapter until I type up the rest. XD! But good news is...I've done great progress with Gettin' Bi Mai. So that will be up very soon. I want to type a few more chappies to that story before I start posting. Cuts down the waiting time a little, no? Oh and what else...

Ah yes...Me be 21 years old now! XD! *eats cake* Happy Birthday to me! *dances*

LOl anyway, on to the reviews...

Terrie1958: XD! *glomps* yea now you know why I haven't been around much lately. lol I've been typing up fanfiction all this time. :P I'm glad you enjoyed this fic as well! And yup, I just loooove my sense of humor. You can call me the LittleKuriboh of Fanfiction. ^^ *is hyper while typing this* heh, love ya lots!

LadyVirgo1956: LMAO. I haven't really been putting that little agreement to practice. *bows to Seto and Jou in apology* ^^ but you are right, I'll make things all better...well at least for now. Heh, four more chapters means a lot more chaos and drama to go! Love ya lots.

Kisa: *glomps Kisa because she can't get enough of her* Don't jump down Seto's throat just yet. *grins* All I can say is read the chapter, dearie. *smiles* I'm glad that you found it in yourself to forgive me. As I mentioned before this will be the last chapter for this story until i finish it. BUT Gettin Bi Mai is right behind it so expect it in a couple of days or so. I promise that will be worth the wait as well. I want to type up enough chappies so I can give myself some time to finish this fic. :p! I can't tell you enough how I appreciate your support. ^^ You just rock. *hugs* love ya lots.

J.S: *laughs* yes, so far this has been my favorite chapter to write! XD So I'm thrilled that you feel the same way.

*shocked* Really? You do that too huh? And to think I was just making things up in my insane mind. :P! Thanks for taking the time out to review and love ya lots!

Girlo: *grins* yes dear, your Jou being in jail question will be answered in this installment. ^^ so enjoy! Love ya lots.

Nikki: *squeals and glomps* I'm in the author pile! yay! What a great Bday present! *smiles*

Silver Crescent X: *loves a cute Seto* ^^ I'm doing just fine and been very busy. I've been inspired lately so I'm doing a lot of typing! *wipes sweat from forehead* Has always you're always welcome to drop by again anytime, love ya lots!

Velvetina: *groans* I don't know. RL is such a bother. but its better than being dead! lmao! I'm sure my classes are going to be fine, i just love drama therefore acting dramatic is inevitable. so bear with me. XD!

Oh that's very nice. ^^ It sounded like you guys had a blast! I must send her an email about her son though. I had no idea he had been sick and I just bet he was sooooo adorable! *loves kids to pieces* So what country are you from? *still need to understand that not everyone she meets is from America* lol but i hope one day i can travel. just gotta get over the fear of planes!

*raises up her first purchased alcoholic beverage of her life* Heres to a fantastic year! Cheers!*giggles* Love ya lots!

Seto's Wifey: *passes on some more tissue* I really did feel very proud of myself when I wrote this chapter. I'm glad its getting the reactioin I was hoping it would get. And yes, more about Jou in this chapter so enjoy! Love ya lots!

Anono: ROTFL LMAO @ foamy woman! Im soooo happy you had gotten the irony out of that! *claps and glomps* good job! ^^ Another great bday present! Here's a filler chapter but its very informative and humourous so i hope you indeed enjoy. Love ya lots!

Title: The Miracle Mutt 5/9

Author: Mizumiblu

Rating: NC-17

Pairing (s): Jou/Seto

Beta: Rroselavy

Spoilers: None

Disclaimer: Me No Own Yu Gi Oh

Summary: One Kaiba Seto learns that just like money, neither happiness nor Christmas miracles grow on trees Its actually more in the form of a mischievous blond name Jounouchi Katsuya.


“It’s a long story how I ended up here. I’ll tell you about it later. Right now, I was just hoping that ya can get da old man ta bail me out.”

Jounouchi gave an exasperated sigh as he leaned against the payphone, listening to Yugi babbling on about nothing. He eyed the creepy large man again, who had just winked at him. Shuddering, he turned his back on the guy, but then immediately thought against it and just settled for wedging himself between the phone and the wall.

“Look buddy, jail is nothing I haven’t experienced before but if ya can’t bail me out dis evening den I understand. I have a lot ta think about anyway, like why am I such a fuck up.”

“Okay, kid. You’re not at home, if you were in the first place, you wouldn’t be here.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Merry Christmas ta ya too, ya jerk.” Rolling his eyes irritably at the officer sitting at the desk across the dimly lit room, the blond then sighed and rested his head in the crook of his left arm, which was perched against the wall. “Yug, I don’t have much time and don’t worry about me, ya just stay safe. I’ll talk ta ya later. Hai…Ja ne.”

Boldly, Jounouchi slammed the black phone back onto the receiver and stared straight into the eyes of the incoming office and growled, “Ready, asshole.”

The officer simply laughed at the unfortunate adolescent as he took out his ring of keys and opened the cell back up. “I must say you got a lot of guts kid. Anyone who attempts to molest a very prolific CEO AND physically assault another in broad daylight had somewhat my respect.”

The hazel-eyed teen glowered at the smug bastard in uniform before he stepped back into his cell.

Fanfuckingtastic, now the whole city of Domino will see him as the psycho blond kid who brought terrorism to Kaiba Corp. Minori, on the other hand, the rich prick already had his bail money waiting for him before he even arrived! No doubt by now the media had already received their hush money, and as long as they had SOMEONE to blame for this incident --namely him -- it most likely hadn’t taken that much to persuade them.

Sighing, and a bit depressed now, Jounouchi sprawled on the bench and stared up at the chipped paint on the ceiling. Damn, damn, damn! He had been so close to getting what he wanted too. Kaiba had almost been his! However, leave it to him to start out trying to be a miracle worker, only to end up being some maniacal terrorist. The blond turned on his left side to face the wall. Well, it looked like the only miracle that was ever going to happen this Christmas would be the hazel-eyed teen getting out of jail…in fifty years.

“Alright, blondie, you have a visitor.”

“Hmm…? Yug’, so ya fina—“ Jounouchi didn’t know exactly why, but upon seeing a pair of familiar green eyes, his blood began to boil. He slowly sat up in his seat, wondering if it would be ok to put his hands around that slender neck, since he was already incarcerated. “Togi’, what in da hell are ya doin’ here?”

The dice master smirked as he crossed his arms. “I could ask you the same thing, but then again, it wouldn’t exactly come as a surprise, now would it?”

“Go fuck yaself, ya freak! If you came all dis way ta gloat, then ya might as well leave. As you can see, I don’t have time for ya shit.”

The raven-haired teen shook his head and tsked in pity. “Seems like you have all the time in the world to me, just sitting here, and besides, Yugi called and asked me if I could come here to bail you out. But if this is the thanks that I get, I guess I will be getting…“

The blond immediately jumped up and ran up to the smug teen, grasping the bars in desperation. “Don’t play like dis, ‘Togi! I really need ta get out of here! I really need ta see if Kaiba is alright, dat he doesn’t think I’m a complete idiot and hate me.”

“For your sake pal, I sure do hope so, because if you did screw things up, then you’ll be in need of a good lawyer as well, since he probably won’t drop the charges.” Otogi smirk inwardly, things were going according to plan.

Jounouchi furrowed his brow but refused to think that far down the road. In fact, despite how bleak things seemed at the moment, he still had hope, and he just needed to put faith in the little hope there was. Even if it using his soul as payment to the devil. The blond sighed. “What do ya want, ‘Togi? What would I have ta do in order fah ya ta bail me out?”

Bingo. The dice master couldn’t help but smile broadly.

“It’s really not much. I’ll bail you out, but we’ll have to make a new wager.”

“A new bet?” The desperate teen clinched the bars tighter for stamina.

“Well let’s not use such a horrible word, let’s just call it a negotiation.” Tugging in at his dice earring, Otogi grinned as he explained. “You know something, something that can destroy me and my treasured relationship with Honda, and I can’t just let it go, knowing that someone like you has such knowledge.”

Jounouchi at first blinked in confusion not at all understanding what his ‘best friend’ was getting at but then he remembered…‘Love at first sight huh? Was it really?’

“Shit, ‘Togi. I was just bluffing; ya actually think I would stoop dat low?”

“I can’t merely go by your word of honor now, can I? Especially when you have such a hot temper…” The dice master paced the floor for a moment, before looking at the blond, a serious expression gracing his features. “Therefore, I have to equalize the situation so that I can rest easy at night and keep Hon’ out of the guest room.”

“Ya guys had an argument ovah dis?”

“What do you think?”

“Gomen.”

“If only it was that simple. Now listen up, I’m sorry it had to come down to this, but there’s no other choice.” Both boys locked eyes as the raven-haired teen proposed his deal. “You had made a threat, as well as a bet to me, saying that you can make Kaiba smile. Of course, it was, for the most part harmless since you didn’t ask for anything in return, BUT Kaiba doesn’t have to know all the details now does he?”

“YA FUCKING SELLOUT! I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS! YA COWARDLY SON OF A BIT—“

“I know people, Jounouchi, very important people. Your business bitch of interest isn’t the only one who can be influential, just remember that.” Otogi’s smirk deepened as he witnessed the distressed look on the blond’s face. “But it’s not at all bad; we each have something that can destroy the other. Just like international countries with nuclear power, we’re stalemated. So what will it be?” the dice master stretched out his hand, waiting.

Jounouchi growled but said nothing. Something smelled fishy and it worried him. Everything seemed suspiciously staged somehow, but then again, it could have all been just a coincidence. It really didn’t matter how it had come to this, he wanted, no NEEDED to see the brunet, and if agreeing to his ‘so-called’ best friend’s demands was the only option he had left…

“Fine, ya have yarself a deal.” The reluctant blond reached and grabbed the offer hand, shaking it tersely. “Now get me outta here.”

With a satisfied grin, the dice master looked to the guard sitting at his usual spot at the desk. “Alright sir, I would like to pay for my friend’s bail.”

The officer nodded as he got up from his desk, taking his large set of keys with him. Otogi carefully eyed the obviously pissed blond as he moved to allow the uniformed man to unlock the cell. He felt guilty, real guilty, but it was for the best. It was something that had to be done; his heart was on the line.

Jounouchi said nothing as the set of bars was noisily moved to allow his freedom. He stepped into the other side, trying to calm the anger that was threatening to take over. The raven-haired bastard was right about one thing, though, he did have a temper. However, when it came to his friends, the blond had always managed to keep himself in check. So it pained him somewhat that one of his friends didn’t trust him and had to resort to blackmail. Then again, it was indeed hard for one to trust anyone if they themselves couldn’t be trusted.

“As you well know, you can’t leave the countr—“

“Yeah, whatever. Unless da law has changed in a few short years, I’ve heard da same shit before.”

“And that’s something to be proud of?” the officer retorted in response. He ignored the growl as he turned towards a set of smirking green eyes. “You can pay for his bail over here.”

“Hai.” The dice master followed casually behind the guard to the front desk.

Jounouchi quietly watched the transaction between the two men, not liking that they were acting so friendly. He snarled as they laughed aloud at some unknown joke. When Otogi said he knew people…

“All that’s left to do is for your friend to sign these papers.”

After seeing two pairs of eyes looking his way, the blond walked up and none too gently grabbed the pen from the officer’s waiting hand.

The dark brown-eyed male sighed, becoming quite irritated with the belligerent teen. “I know you’re well off, Ryuuichi-sama, but I’m sure you can do some extra Christmas shopping with this mon-“

“Just show me where ta sign, ya pompous, ass-kissin’ bastard.”

Frowning deeply, the guard haughtily pointed at the lines that required signatures. “Sign here, here, here, and…here.”

Tossing the pen back onto the desk, only to have it roll off the smooth surface and onto the floor, the sour teen stalked out the entrance with no intention of stopping or even turning back. He more or less floated down the stairs in his mad rush.

“WAIT! WAIT! JOUNOUCHI! SLOW DOWN!”

If anything, the blond simply picked up his pace with every intention of disappearing into the dark streets of downtown Domino. He couldn’t trust himself not to commit murder, he just couldn’t.

“JOU!”

He didn’t want life in prison.

“JOU-NOU-CHI! YOO-HOOOO!

He wanted a life in paradise with Seto.

“WAIT UP!”

He didn’t want to get taken by three over endowed men in the shower because he dropped the soap.

“JOU! FOR FUCK’S SAKE! WILL YOU PLEASE STOP!”

He wanted to take that beautiful, lithe body in that king size bedroom, dropping kisses on wherever his lips chose.

“JOUNOUCHI KATSUYA!!!”

He didn’t want to get stabbed because someone wanted the shitty casserole on his plate.
“JOOOOOOOOOOOUU!!!!!! FOR THE LOVE OF—“

He wanted…

“DON’T YOU WANT A RIDE TO THE KAIBA MANSION?!”

He wanted a ride to the Kaiba Mansion.

“Gah-dammit.” Jounouchi whispered harshly as he halted and took the time to listen to rapidly approaching footsteps coming up the sidewalk.

Once Otogi caught up, he took a few moments hunched over, trying to catch his breath. “Shit...I know….you’re not…ha—“

“And what would I have ta do for dis favor?” the blond kept his back turned towards the other teen.

“Nothing…” the teen millionaire drawled. “I already got what I wanted from you. This is the courtesy of being a friend.”

The brooding teen snorted hard enough for his throat to hurt. “And here I thought ya had forgotten how ta be one.”

“Just come over here and get in the car.” The dice master turned to his left and walked a few steps back up the concrete until he reached his ruby red Cadillac convertible. He disengaged his alarm as well as the locks, and opened the passenger door. Green eyes then looked into cold hazel ones. “Well, are you coming or not?”

Jounouchi gave one last hard glare before he sauntered towards the offered passenger door, and the raven-haired driver grinned, strolling over to his side. Neither said a word as they ducked under the white roof and sat into the plush beige leather interior. Starting the ignition, Otogi proceeded to maneuver his way out of his parallel parking position and then sped down the street. The silence continued as the tension within the small space became thick enough to suffocate in.

“So uh…this thing about Kaiba…”

“Do ya mind if I borrow ya cellphone ta call Yugi? Or do I have ta chop off mah left foot and give it ta ya?”
The dice master heaved a huge sigh, keeping his eyes on the road for the moment. As he slowed at the approaching red light, the teen unhooked the phone from his belt and tossed into the blond’s lap.

“Thanks, now do ya have a saw? I promise I’ll chop off mah right hand while I’m at it.” Jounouchi glared, clearly bitter, as he picked up the phone and began to dial.

Otogi muttered something intelligible as he lightly put his foot on the accelerator, noticing that the light had turned green.

“Yug? Dis is Jou…” hazel eyes began to sparkle as the blond teen laughed aloud. “Nooooo, I didn’t rejoin da Hirutani Gang and break outta jail.” Chuckling still, Jounouchi relaxed further into his seat. “Hai, ‘Togi has graciously bailed me out of jail from da goodness of his heart, just as ya asked him to.” His lips curved into a grin but not in result of what was being said, rather it was over the exasperated stare he was receiving from the driver.

“Oh I’ll head over to the Game Shop later and maybe even help ya with some inventory or something. But right now…”

A blush began to add color to tanned cheeks.

“Now see, I didn’t even say a thing about Kaiba…”

“HEY OTOGI! ARE YOU TAKING JOUNOUCHI TO THE KAIBA MANSION?” the loud but muffled speech of one Yugi Motou resonated from the receiver, which had the blond jerking the phone away from his ear in shock.

The dice master chuckled as he responded back in fervor. “Two traffic lights to go…”

“I’m hangin’ up.”Jounouchi snapped the phone shut in the middle of the smaller teen’s almost psychotic laughter, trying his best not to smile. He absentmindedly placed the phone in his pocket.

“Jounouchi…”

“Save it, I’m still pissed off at ya. Oh and when ya get ta da Kaiba Mansion, don’t even bother ta stop. I’ll just tuck and roll, I mean ya done sooooo much for me already.”

“Dammit, I did what I had to do!”

“No, ya did what ya shouldn’t have done, and now it’s biting ya in da ass.”

The raven-haired teen sighed and silence reigned again.

Jounouchi, with a snort looked out at the scene unfolding before him, and it was…beautiful. The neighborhood was washed in a dreamy, soft glow. Each huge mansion had been outlined in some decorative fashion with Christmas lights. Some yards had a nativity scene, some had Santa’s fat ass in a sleigh, with mechanical reindeers pulling him across the yard, and there were a few that had decided to decorate every tree in the yard like the ones in their houses. Then there were the houses that seemed to have gotten Easter confused with Christmas. The crosses, tombs with the rock being moved to the side and ‘Jesus is alive’ signs were funny as hell to the observant teen. But no matter what the unique touch was, each home seemed to be in sync with its neighbor, the white lights creating a nice romantic holiday atmosphere. It was almost like something one could read in a cheesy holiday girly novel, with a sappy couple kissing in the middle of the street. Then there was the huge portal that would lead one to the Shadow Realm, er well, wait, that was the Kaiba Mansion…

The blond couldn’t help but smile, knowing despite the exterior appearance, there was something far more beautiful inside it than anyone could possibly have placed on their yard in that neighborhood.

As the Cadillac slowed down to a stop, Otogi looked over to the blond who already had one foot out the door. “Do you want me to stay? I mean Kaiba could go all emo.“

“And what in Kami’s name does Elmo got ta do with Kaiba? He wouldn’t want dat for Christmas! Just get the hell out of here!” Jounouchi scowled as he looked to the dark doom that was his interest’s place of residence.

Staring, the dice master cocked his head at almost a ninety degree angle and frowned. “Not Elmo, EMO as in…nevermind.” He then sighed. “Fine, I’m gone to Yugi’s”

“Sucks for him. I better warn him about asking ya for favors. He just might have ta give up his virginity just so ya can price a pack of duel monster cards ta put on da shelf.”

“Oh go to hell, Jounouchi. Go. To. Hell. I don’t even give a damn.” With the loud slam of the door, Otogi sped off down the street, smoke billowing out from the exhaust pipe, gradually shielding the dice master from view.

“Bitch,” the bitter teen growled out to himself before his face immediately softened and he walked up to the gate. What if Kaiba did get all…all…’emo’ and didn’t want to see him? The blond wasn’t sure if he was ready for the rejection he might get as he slowly wedged his face in between the cold steel bars. He was already way beyond the point of no return when it came to his blue-eyed love and would have done anything even if it meant he had to sleep on the frozen concrete at the gate. If Seto was just to give him a kiss on the forehead for those efforts, it would certainly be more than enough to make it all worthwhile. Jounouchi sighed as he eased up off the gate and fisted his hands into his coat pockets. Maybe if he walked around the neighborhood just once, he’d have something decent to say when and if he was allowed to make it to the front door.

However, the blond didn’t even take his first step as gradually, the sound of light jingling reached his ears. Turning around, he saw nothing, but then felt a blunt weight applying itself to his leg. Startled, Jou looked down to meet big brown eyes and couldn’t help but melt. “Well hello, buddy. It’s certainly a pleasure ta see ya again. How’s da high life?” He stooped down to be at eye level with the energetic puppy, and ran his hands playfully over floppy ears while chuckling at its unique appearance. Leave it to the brunet to dress his pet in a small, identical white trench coat and boots, complete with a blue collar that had a duel monster card as the name tag.

“Kyoui! Kyoui-chan!”

Jounouchi suddenly couldn’t remember how to breathe as a soothing yet haunting voice rocked him to his core. Slowly, he stood up as the little retriever, with a sharp yelp, scurried off to meet the approaching figure.

“Kyoui, where did you think you were going?” Kaiba laughed lightly. He readily caught his new friend, who had bounded into his arms, and couldn’t help but laugh even harder as a pink tongue shot out repeatedly to lick his face. He didn’t notice the hazel eyes staring at him in awe until the golden ball of energy wriggled free from his clutches and raced back to the blond, demanding the same kind of affection. “Jounouchi?”

The flustered teen flinched, and almost dropped Kyoui, who he was half-way picking up. “H-ai, Kaib’, it’s me.”
“Well I wou—“

“If ya not comfortable about having me here, I’ll leave.” Too embarrassed to look into those beautiful blue eyes he dreamed so much about, Jounouchi never caught the small smile that the CEO was giving.

“Actually I was going to say, that I wouldn’t mind if TWO mutts were following me about,” the brunet laughed, watching the cute, agitated look that the blond was displaying. “I was just taking Kyoui around the area for some sightseeing. It’s really quite…pleasant. You should come too.”

Jounouchi smiled and took a few steps closer, hugging the warm bundle in his arms even tighter. “I would love dat…Seto. Considering what happened earlier, I should consider mahself lucky.”

Kaiba said nothing, but hummed a bit in acknowledgement as they both starting to stroll down the sidewalk, going in no particular direction. Kyoui, with a light growl, jumped from Jou’s arms and ran further ahead to explore a snow-covered lawn elf on some random yard. “Kyoui is very entertaining. Where did you get him from anyway?’

The hazel-eyed teen grinned, letting his shoulder brush lightly against the other. “A neighbor of mine has been breeding dogs for years. She always told me dat I was more dan welcome ta have one for all da maintenance I’ve done for her around da house.”

“Ah, well, Mokuba loves him, but I think I’ve become very attached too. I guess because I had never received a gift from anyone other than family and business associates,” The CEO paused hesitantly and uncomfortably before adding, “That, and he reminds me of you.”

Just then, Kyoui yelped in fright as the glowing white reindeer he was inspecting, toppled over him and effectively pinned him down.

“Yes, I say very much like you.”

“Shut it, wise ass.” Jounouchi growled playfully as he jogged over to offer assistance. “He was what ya said ya wanted.”

“Actually, I was being sarcastic.”

“I know.”

“Now who’s being a wise ass, for once?”

The blond snorted after hearing the barely-contained laughter from the other. “Kyoui wasn’t da only thing I had up mah sleeve, but of course I got sidetracked.” He lifted the reindeer back in place, freeing the puppy, which got up and happily ran around him in circles.

The brunet choked slightly as he looked with curiosity into hazel eyes. “Yeah, I suppose there have to be more, even though I can’t figure out for the life of me just how you came to know Shuji-san, and what he had to do with any of it.”

Frowning from the memory, Jounouchi walked back over to his waiting love interest to continue their walk. “I just met him when I was in front of Kaiba Corp.” Blushing, he stared at the various prints in the snow, finding it harder and harder to speak. “I wanted…for someone ta hold da mistletoe over ya head while ya were distracted with ya gift.”

Now it was the CEO’s turn to blush. “I…well I guess that would’ve been just as nice.”

Grinning now with a sudden boost of confidence and reassurance, Jounouchi exclaimed. “Yup! I was gonna give ya a mind-blowing kiss dat would have ya declare ya love for me!”

Chuckling weakly, Kaiba looked to the adorable teen running in front of him. “Is that so?”

“Hell yeah. You would have been like, ‘Oh Katsuya, I love ya so much. Hold me!’ Then I would have said, ‘Of course baby come ‘ere. Daddy will give ya some lovin’” Jounouchi paused to make loud kissing noises as he hugged himself with enthusiasm.

Shaking his head, the brunet smiled with a chuckle. “Yes, with one kiss, I, the great Kaiba Seto, would so totally say that. Girly voice and all.”

“Heh, with dese lips, ya’d be lucky ta remember ya name.” The blond grinned roguishly but then pouted cutely. “But I’m not finished.”

Kaiba laughed, as he bowed respectively. “Sumimasen, Jounouchi-san, Please, please continue. I am so intrigued by your out of character, mushy dialogue.”

“It’s the lips, I’m telling ya. Now where was I…” Jounouchi frowned for a moment in though before his hazel eyes immediately brightened in remembrance. “Ah yea, then ya would have said, ‘Promise me, Katsuya, dat ya’ll never leave me. I’ve been so lonely.”

The brunet faltered a bit at the irony and truth from such a simple cliché, a statement in which he would probably say.

Seeing the slight distress on the gorgeous face he cherished, Jounouchi walked up and took hold of the blue-eyed teen’s hand, lacing their fingers together. He looked deep into his future that was Seto. “And I would have said, ‘I will promise ya dat and more. Ya will never spend anotha Christmas alone again startin’ with dis one.’” Taking the plunge, the blond’s free hand covered their intertwined ones. “Would ya spend Christmas with me, Seto?’”

Mesmerized by the compassion that wasn’t at all an act, Kaiba said nothing at first but tightly squeezed the warm hand in his own. “W- was that a part of your plan also?”

“Hai, and it can still happen. I have so much planned for us, and with mah dad finally getting ovah himself and dating again, it’s like I have mah own apartment now, so I guess ya wouldn’t have been da only lonely one.” Giving into the urge, Jounouchi gently took up the brunet’s pale hand to his lips. “ I need ya just as much as ya need me.”

“But your friends…”

“Ya can join us. We have a tradition where we chop down a Christmas tree for Yugi’s shop. Hell, why not bring the little guy along as well as Kyoui? It’ll be almost like we’re…”

“Family.” Kaiba smiled through glazed eyes, ignoring for the moment the puppy’s playful growl and tug at his trench coat.

“Yeah, Set. Family.” The blond gently wiped away a tear before it even had the chance to fall from an azure eye.

Smiling sheepishly, the brunet gently untangled their hands apart and fisted his into his pockets, the sappiness being a bit too much at the moment. “Alright, Katsuya. I would love to spend Christmas with you and I’m dying to see what you’ve come up with.”

Jounouchi gave a toothy grin and they both walked leisurely again. “Sweet, and to think, I was so scared on mah way here from jail. I almost did—“

“Jail? You came here straight from jail?”

The blond stared in confusion as they immediately stopped again. “Um, yeah. Even though ya was shocked out of ya mind, I know ya had ta have seen ya men arrest me.”

“No, no. I mean that can’t be possible! When I had gotten the charges dropped so much earlier. You should’ve been out of jail a long time ago.”

Hazel eyes widened in disbelief. “Seto, I’ve been sitting in dat cell for hours and had ta be gotten out on bail. Are ya sure, ya didn’t get ya time mixed up? Ya were pretty shaken.”

“Bullshit! I got myself together within like ten minutes. I doubt you were even at the police station when I made that call, and you mean to tell me that you haven’t been notified?”

Jou shook his head slowly and frowned. “Gomen but no one told me a damn thing.”

Kaiba bit his lip thoughtfully, still half not believing. “That just can’t be right. Usually my word is law around here, I wonder what could’ve happened?”

The blond shrugged as he nonchalantly kicked at a mound of snow. “All I know is dat Oto—“ And that’s when something suddenly clicked and Jounouchi slowly scowled, red tinting his vision.

‘I know people, Jounouchi, very important people. Your business bitch of interest isn’t the only one who can be influential, just remember that.’

Why that son of a bi-

“What is it, Jounouchi? So Ryuuji paid your bail?” the brunet blinked, not understanding the expression he was seeing on his soon-to-be lover’s face.

Quickly snapping out of his dark trance, the troubled teen promptly walked up and tenderly flattened his hands on either side of Kaiba’s face. Then with a sigh, he pressed their foreheads together. “Don’t worry about how I got here. The important thing is dat we’re together here, right now.”

The blue-eyed teen’s breath hitched at the sudden closeness, but an old familiar smirk appeared over his face. “So does this mean I get to try out those infamous and oh-so-dangerous Jounouchi lips?”

Hazel eyes popped open at the suggestive tone and the blond chuckled. “Heh, I’m game, but it’ll be at ya own risk.”

“I’ll take my chances.”

With a grin from both participants, lips gradually melded together in harmony as neither realized that they were in reality standing in the middle of the street with a very excitable puppy running joyfully around them in circles.

As the blond moaned contently and felt arms wrap around his neck, he couldn’t help but think…

There might actually be something to those cheesy girly holiday novels after all.

To Be Continued…

Word Count: 4,905

Items Used: None this time around XD!

Kyoui literally means miracle