Compilation of Short Stories.

This is a compilation of 4 puppyshipping fics, completely unrelated.  They are too short to stand alone.  They are also currently in a contest poll at Little Dragon to decide which one I should try my first ever animation project on.  Enjoy.

 

First story:

Title: Starlight Starbright



Author: By Maggiemay



Beta: Leanne



Rating: R



Genre: Romance



Spoilers: none



Jou makes a small wish and finds out some very interesting things about our dragon.



A/N: This is a one shot that came from my first multipart Seto/Jou story. I actually had forgotten this particular one shot. Heck I forgot the multipart story.



So enjoy RETRO MAGGIE…and HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOU



Throws confetti



******



"Starlight, star bright, first star I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight." Jou recited, then sighed; he knew it was useless. Just a fairytale, a myth… but he almost felt compelled to come up onto the roof of his apartment building and seek out the comfort of the simple, childish ritual.



Closing his eyes tightly, the sad blonde completed the ritual and breathed out his wish. "Please, help me understand how I can love him, and how he can pass me by. Show me how to reach him." Feeling foolish, Jou gave a laugh that held a world of heartbreak and went down to his apartment. He had dinner to cook and didn't want to waste anymore time on childish fancies.



If he'd looked up, he would have seen the star he'd wished on glow brightly and wink out of existence as its wish was granted to the golden pure heart of the sad teen.



Later that night Jou finished his nightly prayers and crawled into bed. Giving his love one last yearning thought, he closed his eyes and sought the realms of Morpheus.



As the teen entered the place between dreams, a glittering ball streaked into the room through the open window, causing the curtains to flutter slightly. Hovering over the sleeping form, it slowly expanded and began to descend, covering the still form in a blanket of silvery light.



Jou was awakened by an unfamiliar electronic shrill of an alarm clock. Blinking himself awake, he looked around. `What the hell? This ain't my room.' While he watched, a slim muscular arm reached out and shut off the shrill of the alarm. Looking at the clock, Jou groaned. `5:30? What the fuck?' He forgot about the time when he felt himself moving. `Hey what is goin' on here?'



Suddenly Jou found himself standing, stretching and doing a calisthenics routine, but he wasn't doing it. That's when he felt the presence of the other. In fact, as he thought about it, he was amazed he hadn't felt the other sooner. The strength of the other's mind was incredible. `I'm sharing my body with someone? Who…oh fuck…did I get a yami and he's taken over?'



After about ten seconds of mental panic, Jou calmed himself. `If it was a yami, then Yugi and Yami would help him. Besides, this didn't look like Jou's place and the arm that he'd seen didn't look like his. So that meant he probably was… visiting someone else. Maybe he was someone's Yami? Nah that did not make any sense, `Okay Jou, think. What was the last thing ya remember?' He wracked his memory, but the only thing he could remember was going to bed.



`Oh…that's it. Dis is a dream. Okay. Might as well relax and see where it brings me.' Happy with his explanation, he started to take note of the room. It was large and spacious, furnished with cool, Spartan efficiency. Clean lines and uncluttered space dominated the décor. But, as Jou looked around, he saw a complete absence of personal items. No pictures, no knick-knacks or other things to identify the owner of the room. It was as impersonal as an

expensive hotel room. 



`A hotel? How would I know that? I ain't never been in a fancy hotel.' Baffled, he looked at what he could see of the body he was occupied. `Tall…taller din me. Strong. I can feel his muscles working hard. Him? Yeah…definitely him. Damn, he's gotta piss and he is determined to not go until he finishes his workout.' As he experienced the same discomfort the other boy was feeling, Jou almost felt he had to squirm. `Damn, whoever it is, he sure can

handle pain; feels like his bladder's about ta explode.



`Hmmm…a straight stick. Wears thick pajamas like its dead cold.  Works out in them, and barely breaks a sweat. Weird. Come ta think of it…he is cold. But, not outside; it's almost like its coming from the inside.'



Feeling himself rise to a standing position, Jou felt the barely winded breathing and smelled the warmth of flesh. There was something familiar about that scent. Before Jou could figure it out, his host was moving across the room to a side door. He really hoped it was a bathroom, or his host was in real danger of pissing himself.



Jou was relieved when his host took care of that pressing need. When his host bent over the sink to wash his hands, Jou realized there was a mirror right in front of him. But with his host now washing his face, Jou had to wait until he opened his eyes again before he could get a glimpse of the mysterious other. He was further frustrated when the other boy grabbed a towel and buried his face in the warm depths. The contrast was so great Jou could actually feel the tingle of pleasure the other felt at the warm contact.



As his host lifted his face from the towel and up to the mirror, Jou felt shock and horror rush through him at the familiar elegant face, piercing, icy blue eyes and tumbled dark hair. `Oh my god! Seto Kaiba.' If Jou had control of his legs, he would have fallen.  

Coming out of his shock, Jou calmed himself by chanting `It's only a dream.' Over and over, until he relaxed. Then the humor of this dream struck him. After all, he would give up his precious Red Eyes for the chance to be inside Seto Kaiba. To know what makes the CEO tick. `Well, this is my dream…maybe I can at least get that much. Maybe I can hear him …his thoughts. After all I can feel what he feels…which is …cold…icy cold.'



He looked around, remembering how Yugi had described his and Yami's minds being separated by a door. The moment he thought of it, one appeared and Jou moved slowly towards it – which was a strange sensation, since he seemed to have no body to speak of.



Tentatively, unsure if it would work, Jou mentally flung open a door into the other boy's consciousness only to instantly slam it shut at the loud, incomprehensible thoughts assaulted his mind. 

`Wow! All that's going on? Who'da thunk?'



This time Jou opened the door only a crack. He was rewarded by just a few of the louder voices coming through. Most prevalent was the voice that seemed to be outlining Seto's schedule.

As he listened, Jou found himself both shocked and amazed. Seto not only had school, and business meetings; he had an appointment with social services before school, something about Mokuba's custody.  The blonde not only heard him schedule it, but felt the other boy's apprehension closely followed by the rock hard determination that nothing would separate him from his brother.



As the mental listing of his schedule continued, Jou was dumbfounded to find that he was on that list. At least he assumed that the three entries labelled `tease mutt' – 10 minutes, slated to just before school, during lunch and after school - were for him. His amazement continued when he recognized the amused affection mixed with something…deeper, which accompanied those mental entries into Seto's schedule.



The dreaming visitor was so bemused by that discovery he actually tried to jump at the feel of hot water running over his body. `Hell, I missed seeing him strip? Damn it! I …' His mental complaint ended when the brunet boy began to stroke his body with soap and a wash cloth.



Jou could feel every touch as if Seto was touching his body and he could feel the friction against his hands, as if he was the one caressing Seto's body. Closing his eyes, he luxuriated in the sensation of touching the long, slim body of his secret love and being stroked by the strong soft hands all over his body. Too bad his love didn't seem to be enjoying it as much as he was.



The shower was over way too soon for Jou's taste.  Keeping the door open, watching the stunning teen, Jou observed and felt every thought and emotion. Distaste for the school uniform, pleasure from the heat from the blow dryer and random hentai thoughts about blonde hair all mixed while the taller boy dressed and prepared for school.



When they went down to breakfast, Mokuba was waiting. The black-haired boy immediately launched into a whining monolog about why he shouldn't be grounded. He could feel the dismay and weariness mixed with anger that Seto felt. The young Kaiba did not seem to be aware that Seto was practically screaming at him to shut up mentally, all the while speaking in cold, immovable tones about responsibility and privilege not being an excuse for laziness.



He actually felt Seto's patience snap, and suddenly they were standing, striding over to house phone. Viciously, Seto punched in a few buttons and ordered the limo around. When the driver informed him that the black limo was out of service for a rattle in the engine and that they would be taking the older blue limo, he felt a jolt of pain and fear, instantly stifled a moment later by a wall of ice.



`What? Why would he be afraid of a limo?'



Jou didn't have time to think about much more as Seto walked out the door and into the limo. After they were seated, Jou looked around the limo, trying to spot what could have caused that reaction from the unflappable Seto Kaiba.   The inside of the limo was pretty much as Jou'd have expected…except the seats were dark red. Even as he noticed them, Seto reached out with a trembling hand and traced a small stain, almost invisible on the red seats. He was horrified by the thought that screamed at him through the mental door. `My blood still shows you bastard. Even on red seats, my blood is still here.' As quickly and violently as the thought flashed, it was gone and ice took its place.



Jou, still reeling from the violence from the thought, sat back silently and watched the morning's events unfold around the other boy. First the meeting with the social worker where the sadistic bitch did her best to put Kaiba in his place and take away his heart stone, his brother. Once he'd won that battle, they got back into the limo and headed to school. He was aware of a slight sense of anticipation, and realized that it was coming from Seto, and that what he was anticipating was…him. Jou. Their morning meeting.  

Right on time, cool as you please, they stepped out of the limo, and as Jou watched, Seto discreetly looked around and attempted to locate…him. He was awed when he felt some of the ice fade when Seto caught the sight of his own distinctive blonde hair.

In fact, not only did some of the ice encasing the brunet fade, but he could feel happiness start to bubble inside the brunet and one thought came through the open door. `Beautiful' `He thinks I'm beautiful? God, why doesn't he just say so? Why play this game?' 

Jou listened intently to the dialogue between himself and the brunet. But what the taller boy said was not what his host was actually thinking. "Well, you got out of bed on time for once?" was what came out of Seto's mouth…but what he was thinking was "You look so bright this morning…" When he said, "You can't even dress properly. Did you sleep in that uniform?" Jou heard his heartfelt offer to smooth down his collar and when Yugi called out to him, beckoning him to come, Seto's final remark was "Your master's calling Mutt…run along now." Inside a dull ache bloomed, and Seto mourned internally `I would be your master, Puppy, if you just let me…'



As Jou watched himself walk toward Yugi, he was struck with sudden clarity. Looking around, he saw what he'd missed all along. There was no sunlight…no golden light at all…just the colourless light of false dawn, giving everything a faded and washed out look.  Everything appeared at a distance; nothing touched his proud, cold ost.



But, as Seto watched the other Jou walk away, Jou realized that while that Jou was walking away, to Seto, he was radiating sunlight, his colors bold and vibrant. When he'd been speaking with Seto, his feelings had been warm; where now, as before, they were icy cold.



Jou, sighed softly and said to himself `I'm ready for this dream to end. I know it's just wishful thinking, but it is so gonna hurt tomorrow.' He could swear he heard a small chiming laugh and gentle voice reciting "Star Light, Star Bright…"



`No way…but then again…Okay, if this is my wish. Bring it on." 



Throughout the he watched as Seto moved through his classes, working on several levels at one time. He could be completing an assignment or taking a test, and still be mentally turning over some deal for his company. Sometimes it would mix with concern for Mokuba, and sometimes it would mix with a strange inchoate longing. Always, always, he was isolated and cold. His only warmth came from his all too brief encounters with Jou, or his little golden puppy as he liked to mentally call Jou.



During their two shared classes, Seto was almost painfully aware of the ice that surrounded him, and the warmth of Jou that lay just out of his reach. Sometimes it was all the brunet could do not to stretch out to that beckoning warmth, to draw it in to melt the ice. But he managed to stop the impulse by clenching his hands into fists so tight the nails drew thin crescents of blood.



At lunch, the ice thickened as an avaricious girl cornered him and threatened to go to the media, tell them that he assaulted her, if he didn't give her what she wanted. When he laughed with cold condescension, the girl started to scream. Seto just turned and walked away…but the coldness and gray light deepened to alarming levels, snuffing out the bright hot rage that had blazed for just a second.



Like an instinct, Seto sought out Jou, desparate for warmth; only to be met with the sight of the blonde – himself - seated between his friends, snapping out derogatory quips for `Moneybags'. Jou flinched from the pain and the ice that instantly covered it and numbed it. That nickname really hurt his frozen love.



He vowed then and there never to say it again.



The CEO made it through the rest of school on autopilot, the world draped in icy shadows. Even that busy mind was silent, no thoughts coming through the door. Jou dared to open it wider, only to shiver at the wave of ice-cold air that came through the portal. He closed it down to a crack again, feeling worry gnaw at this mind.



After school, Seto tried again, desperate for the warmth only his puppy could give. As Jou watched, the other teen exited the building, only to be stopped in his tracks by an avalanche of ice as he saw Jou, sitting with Mai in his arms, talking about a walk in the park. It was too much. Without another word or thought, Jou felt Seto Kaiba's heart and soul freeze, and knew that a part of him had died, lost forever to the ice. Screaming out a denial, Jou felt himself hurtling away from the lonely, ice-encased soul.



"NOOOOO!" Jou woke up screaming. "Shit, shit, it's just a dream.  Not real…oh shit it better not be real. Fuck! Kaiba! I gotta talk…oh gods…he'd never…" As he calmed, the blonde tried to think rationally. "Okay. It was just a dream. But, if he ever comes to school in a blue limo…well then all bets are off. And, no more moneybags. I'll call him something else. Maybe Dragon, he'd like that no matter what."



Looking at his clock, Jou gave a yelp and jumped out of bed. If he hurried, he could just make it.



Skidding to a halt, breath heaving from his rush, he was just in time to see Kaiba step out of a familiar blue limo. When Seto stepped out, Jou caught a glimpse of the dark red interior. He watched as his love looked around and saw how his glance lingered for just a second on Jou.



Taking the initiative, Jou walked up and smiled warmly, saying softly "Good morning Dragon."



Seto's eyes flared briefly then narrowed "What the hell do you want, mutt?"



"Would you believe I'm tired of bein' a stray and I'm lookin' for a master?"



"What did you just say?" Disbelief, pain and ice warred in those blue eyes.



"I said that this puppy needs a master. I was wondering if you were interested." Smiling mysteriously, Jou stepped closer and cupped the wide-eyed CEO's face in his hands. Giving him a soft Eskimo kiss, Jou released him and turned, walking away. He could almost imagine the shock rattling the ice in his love's shrouded soul.



During their shared classes, Jou made a point of brushing against the brunet as he passed his desk to get to his own. When he saw the clenched fists form, he dropped a pencil, and in the act of picking it up, used Seto's leg to help him back up. The fists unclenched before they could mar the perfect skin.



Jou watched as class got out for lunch, and the bitch tried to corner his dragon. Timing his entrance perfectly, he slid up next to his taller love and wrapped his arm around his waist. Giving the girl a gimlet eyed stare, Jou asked sweetly "Is she bothering you? I can get rid of her for you. Your puppy can bite." Jou smiled widely, showing his very sharp white teeth.



The girl gave a shriek and ran off. Jou chuckled and squeezed the other boy lightly before stepping away. "See, another point in my favor. I get rid of the bitches for ya. Whaddya say? Ya wanna be my master?"



The smaller boy could see hope and ice war in the normally blank eyes, and decided to give the other some more time. "What do you say we go get some food? I'm starved." Not waiting for his answer, Jou dragged him off to the cafeteria. Spying his friends, Jou brought him over to their table.



Everyone was startled, but welcoming. Yugi was the first to speak. "Hi, Kaiba. You finally decided to join us for lunch. Sit down." He motioned to the one chair left at the table.



"No, thank you. You only have one chair left, and it obviously wasn't for me." Seto declined stiffly, but Jou could see the longing in his eyes. Yugi, not in the least upset, gave a small giggle and hopped out of his chair. "You can sit here. I will just sit on Yami's lap. I do it all the time."



Seto agreed reluctantly, but, as lunch continued Jou could swear he saw the ice start to melt from Seto's heart. After lunch, Jou walked his dragon to his next class and repeated the Eskimo kiss from earlier. "I'll see ya later. Pay attention in this class- no autopilot." He admonished playfully, only to be delightfully surprised when his love returned the gesture and said in a gentle voice, rusty from disuse, "Stay out of trouble, Puppy. See you later."



Jou bounced on his toes, waiting impatiently beside the door when Seto came out of the school building. He saw the second Seto's partially thawed eyes froze to diamond hardness as they fell on Mai, and he saw the ice falter when he stepped up beside Seto and wrapped his arms around his waist. Looking up into the cracked and crumbling frozen walls, Jou laid his head on his dragon's shoulder and said in his most loving voice, "So, do you wanna take your puppy for a walk in the park?"



His dragon gave a short nod, but before they could take a step, Jou reached up and caught the single teardrop, all that remained, of the ice in Seto's heart. "Seto…do you mind if we walk in the sun?  We've both been cold for too long."

End of Story 1 (Starlight Starbright)

Story 2:  Flexible is next