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I Almost Had You	By : Hideki LaShae Category: Yu-Gi-Oh > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 8336 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own YuGiOh!, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-I Almost Had You
- 2-Two
- 3-Three
- 4-Four
- 5-Five
- 6-Six
- 7-Seven
- 8-Eight
- 9-Nine
- 10-Ten
- 11-Eleven
- 12-Twelve
- 13-Thirteen
- 10
- 11
- 12
Disclaimer: All Yu-Gi-Oh! characters and references belong to their respective owners. I do not own the rights to any of the songs used in this story and they were all used with the best of intentions. The songs include Come a Little Bit Closer by Jay and the Americans, Welcome To My Life by Simple Plan, Witch Doctor by David Seville and the Chipmunks, I Can’t Fight This Feeling by Chicago, Blue (Da Ba Dee) by Eiffel 65, Kiss… Rainbow… The Hour (L'Heure)… Ready Steady Go… Tears Among the Thorns… Lover Boy… Heaven’s Drive… by L’Arc~En~Ciel. Story elements © Hideki LaShae. No money was gained in the writing of this story.

I Almost Had You
By
Hideki LaShae

Chapter Eleven
Sometimes It’s Over Before It’s Even Begun

- - Modern Day - -

Yugi rolled up the scroll he had been perusing. “Um… guys…?”

“Yeah, Yugi? What did you come up with?” asked Anzu.

“Do you know a way to get our brothers back?” asked Mokuba gripping Shizuka’s hand tightly.

“I found a way actually,” said Yugi. He sighed. “We just can’t do it.”

“What? Why the hell not?” screamed Shizuka furiously.

“We’re not in the past,” said Yugi, “and we can’t get back there.”

Shizuka took a deep breath to try to calm herself. “What do you mean, Yugi?”

“According to this scroll I borrowed from the museum, there was one incidence when two people came to Egypt from a future time, by way of the Time Wizard,” explained Yugi, “Time Wizard and strong Shadow Magic in the form of a forbidden spell brought the two people to the Pharaoh’s palace. In order for them to return, a strong Shadow Magic spell and Time Wizard also would need to be used. We can’t contact them to tell them what to do, and without Time Wizard, we couldn’t go back… It took strong Shadow Magic, and we just don’t have that going for us.”

“So does the scroll say they made it back to their time?” asked Ryou.

Yugi shook his head. “All it said is that they found the way to leave. It doesn’t say they used it. Also it doesn’t mention them again, so they didn’t stay in Egypt.”

- - 3000 years ago - -

Seth read through the scroll Isis placed in front of him. His eyes widened and he read the scroll again. “It can’t be…”

“I’m afraid it is, cousin,” said Isis calmly, “The way to send Seto and Jou back to their homes. I’ve already informed Atemu of it.”

“You what?” Seth glared at Isis.

“He insisted on knowing as soon as we found something,” said Isis, “He felt you might not inform him if you didn’t want Jou to leave us.”

“Damn him!” exclaimed Seth, “I would have told him! I might not have told Jou, but I would have told Atemu!”

“Do you really love Jou, Seth?” asked Isis sitting down in front of him and looking straight into his cerulean eyes.

“I would love it if I did,” whispered Seth, “I love Jono, and no matter how much of Jono exists in Jou, I realize now that I was wrong to bring him here. He is not the same boy I fell in love with. I care for him, and if he chose to stay, I would love him to the best of my ability, but he is not Jono.”

“Do you want him to stay?” asked Isis.

“Of course I do!”

“Why?”

“Because, he contains Jono within him, and I love that he does. He’s not Jono and yet he is, and although I don’t like that he isn’t Jono, I love him just the same,” said Seth, “I won’t ask him to stay, but I won’t tell him to go.”

“Well, make sure he knows he is welcome to stay if he chooses, and that you would like to be his husband should he choose to stay,” said Isis.

“And how do you suppose I get that message across to him?” asked Seth.

“Simple! Tell him you’ve found the way for him to go home, but at the same time, ask him to marry you!” exclaimed Isis slamming her fist onto the table, “Are you really so stupid you couldn’t figure that out for yourself?”

“When it comes to love…”

“Most definitely!” exclaimed Isis and Mai who happened to step into the room at just the right time.

Seth nodded. “I should go speak to Jou, then seeing as how Atemu already knows of this.”

“Go get him, Seth!” exclaimed Mai with a smile before pulling Isis into her arms, “But remember, if he’s anything like my cousin… he’ll be a handful for you!”

“He is very much like your cousin,” said Seth, “I just hope he loves me as much as Jono did.” He walked out of the room and headed off to find Jou in the Temple of Osiris with Shizuru. “How is everything doing?”

“Fine,” said Shizuru, “I think I’m taking to this responsibility quite well. Now, if you two don’t mind, I have some important duties to fulfill.” She smiled as she turned to leave the two young men alone.

“I need to speak to you, Jou,” said Seth, “I have something to tell you and something to ask.”

“Have a seat,” said Jou moving to sit on a bench barely big enough for two. He blushed slightly as Seth joined him and their bodies touched. “If the order doesn’t matter, I think I’d like to hear the bad news first.”

“I’m afraid order does matter, and I never said what I had to say was good or bad,” said Seth.

“Oh, right.”

“Jou, I love you, and I would like to ask you to marry me,” said Seth.

“Marry you?” asked Jou, “You want me to marry you?”

“I want you to consider it, yes. I want to marry you. I would be a good husband to you,” said Seth, “I know I have asked you before and given you some time to think about it… You don’t have to answer me now, because I know this is a big decision and you haven’t yet been told everything you need to know before you could make it, so I will give you some time to think about it.”

Jou’s eyes welled up with tears. “This is it, isn’t it?”

“Jou? What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

“You can’t find it! You can’t find the way to send me home! I’m going to be stuck here forever and I’ll never see Shiki again!” exclaimed Jou as his tears rolled down his cheeks.

“That’s not the other news I bring you, Jou. On the contrary, we have the method to send you home,” said Seth wiping the tears from Jou’s cheeks, “but I’m asking you not to go. I’m asking you to stay with me. You could go if you wish. I won’t keep you here if you don’t want to be, but I hope you will stay and love me and be my husband. I will give you the world.”

Jou took a deep breath but didn’t speak.

“I’m offering you a home, Jou, either with me here or without me back where you came from,” said Seth, “The decision is yours. I can’t make you stay. I won’t make you stay. Just think about my offer. Think about it and tell me when you are ready.”

“Stay here? Marry you? I don’t know what to say,” said Jou. He nodddd his head. “I’ll think about it.”

“Thank you, Jou. That is all I can ask.”

“Now I must pray.” Jou turned away from Seth and stood. He moved over to the statue of Osiris and prostrated himself in front of it.

Seth stood and walked to the entrance. Before he stepped out, he said, “I will leave you to it.”

- - Enter Jou’s Memory - -
“Yeah, I’m jumpy this morning! I just had the craziest dream in the world about…”

“About?”

I looked at Seto to see the genuinely curious expression cross the brunet’s normally stoic face. I relaxed somewhat and whispered, “About Seth. In my dream, he asked me to stay here with him while you went back to Japan.”

Seto clenched his fist. “And what did you say?”

“I woke up.” I blushed. “I honestly don’t know what I would say if he asked.”

“I know what I’d want you to say,” said Seto standing up.

“Yeah. You’d tell me to stay so you wouldn’t have to see the mutt ever again once you returned back home!” I exclaimed.

“Wrong!” exclaimed Seto grabbing me and forcing me back the two feet to the wall before roughly pressing his lips to mine.
- - Exit Jou’s Memory - -

“Lord Osiris, what do I do?” asked Jou. ‘Seth asked me to marry him and stay here. I already know Seto would want me to go back to our world to be with him. He already told me as much after I had the dream about Seth asking me just this! I care for them both… I don’t know what to do! When Seth first asked me, I was shocked to say the least, and I didn’t understand why he would want me. But now this second time, he seems so desperate… like he needs me to stay, but for what reasons I still can’t fathom. It’s like he thinks I’m the only one who he could love. Probably simply because I’m so much like Jono.’

“Follow your heart,” whispered the wind.

“Thank you, Osiris. I will,” said Jou standing and heading out of the temple.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Seto stared at the pillow where Jou last rested his head. He remembered being in bed with Jou and mumbling, “Je t’adore,” but he also remembered the whispered words he so blatantly ignored when they were spoken to him, “Do you love me? On second thought… don’t answer that now. If you do, I certainly don’t want this to be how you tell me the first time.”

Seto sat up and looked around the room. “Jou?”

Silence answered Seto’s call.

Seto climbed from his bed and wrapped his blanket around himself. He headed onto the balcony and looked into Jou’s room. “Jou?”

Silence again, but Jou’s open notebook on the bed caught Seto’s attention and he entered the room to get a closer look at it. He saw the quickly written and only slightly illegible kanji on the page. He read it aloud, “Seto, I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you woke, but I promised Shizuru I would help her down at the temple. She’s preparing for a festival and is in need of a little help. I’ll come to see you when I’m free… tonight if at no other time today. I’ll touch you in all those places you like to be touched… Have a nice day. See you soon. Jou.”

Seto sat down on Jou’s bed with the notebook in hand and he closed his eyes.

- - Enter Seto’s Memory - -
“Fuck me! Fuck me now! Fuck me hard!”

“Oh, I will… but not yet,” I said crawling up Jou’s body and straddling his head, “You’re ready for me, but I’m not ready for you. Suck me, puppy.”

“Yes, master!” Jou wasted no time in following the command. He started with a simple lick of his tongue all the way from the base of my cock to the slit in the top. He pulled as much of my flesh into his mouth as he could and sucked on it to lubricate it with his saliva.

I grabbed Jou’s hair and held his head still as I thrust in and out of his mouth. I panted heavily as my climax approached. “Oh, Jou. Suck harder for me.”

Jou tightened his lips around my hot erection and sucked as hard as possible while I thrust into his mouth. My cream spurted into his mouth, but he tried to hold as much as he could within his mouth to slick up my sex even more.

I pulled out of Jou’s mouth and moved down his body. I locked my lips with his to cause a distraction when I pressed inside his perfectly tight ass with my erect penis.

“Thank you,” whispered Jou quietly as I settled deep inside him. He wrapped his arms tight around me and shed a few tears, which I quickly licked away. He looked at me with lust in his eyes, but there’s more. His eyes would indicate that he loved me too.

With Jou’s signal, I started to move, thrusting in and pulling out of his sweet body. We stared at each other. We kissed. Our union couldn’t be better if we’d tried… well, except a proper lubricant would have been stimulating.

“There! Seto, there! Faster!” exclaimed Jou bucking against me.

I sped up and gripped his erection to stroke it while trying to satisfy our lust.

Jou kissed me before crying out my name as he washed my stomach and chest with his seed, and I moaned quietly when I released inside him. I kissed him and pulled out.

Jou whimpered. “Please, Seto… Once more?”

I got off Jou and smirked. “Okay… on your hands and knees, puppy…”

Jou blushed, but he didn’t complain. He just rolled over and lifted himself onto his hands and knees like a dog. “Yes, master.”

Staring at Jou’s ass with him in that position was the most erotic thing I’ve ever seen in my life. He must really trust and care for me to let me take him like that. I pumped myself a few times to get erect again before I pushed into Jou from behind. I whispered, “I am so going to enjoy this, little puppy. Call me your master again.”

“Yes, Seto! Fuck me like a dog! Fuck me like the dog I am, master!” exclaimed Jou, “I’m your puppy! Fuck me… like I’ll always belong to you!”

“You will! You will always belong to me!” I pounded roughly into Jou’s ass.

Moments later, Jou spilled his release onto the bed, and I followed a few thrusts later.
- - Exit Seto’s Memory - -

Seto smiled. ‘Maybe I can get him to suck me off again tonight. He only has a rudimentary skill, but his mouth is certainly talented. I could get used to having that mouth on me… every morning, noon, and night!’

Seto moved to close the notebook when he realized the page previously also had new writing on it. He turned to it and looked at the words.

- - Begin Jou’s Note - -
<<… If you love him, love him… >>
<<… Then maybe you should let him go… >>

<<… If you love him, love him… >>
<<… Then maybe you should let it show… >>

<<… If you love him, love him… >>
<<… Then maybe you should let him know… >>

<<… Cause if you do, if you do… >>
<<… He’ll always come back to you… >>

<<… Cause if you don’t, if you don’t… >>
<<… He won’t come round to you… >>

<<… Cause if you do, if you do… >>
<<… You’ll know his love is true… >>
- - End Jou’s Note - -

“Jou’s writing a new song? Or at least he’s trying to. It looked like he doesn’t have any idea which order he wants it in just yet,” said Seto, “Maybe I shouldn’t let on that I’ve seen this yet.” He closed the notebook and set it down. He sighed. “Who was he referring to? Does he love me or does he love Seth? Why do I care? And just why do I want him to love me? Maybe because I’m falling in love with him.”

Seto rose from Jou’s bed and headed back out onto their shared balcony. He stared out over the desert sands.

=====
Mokuba dropped a stack of tabloids on the desk in front of Seto.

Seto moved all the papers around to look at them. They all shared a common picture of him with his arms wrapped around Jou and kissing him full on the lips. He read the headlines aloud, “CEO gay, stocks declining… CEO caught having sex in public with another boy… Seto Kaiba screws mutt! … Seto Kaiba: slumming? … Jounouchi Katsuya, prostitute to the rich?”

“Do you think Jou’s seen them yet?” asked Mokuba.

“I can almost guarantee he has,” said Seto, “He will not be happy.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I’ll do what is best for our future. I will deny everything to keep Kaiba Corps stocks from falling any more,” said Seto, “I’ll have to stop seeing Jou for awhile, but once the heat settles down, we can pick our relationship up again. We’ll just have to be more careful next time so we’re not found out again.”
=====

“That wouldn’t be fair to him,” said Seto with a sigh, “I would never intentionally hide our relationship, but I couldn’t just announce it to the world. The results for Kaiba Corp would be catastrophic! We couldn’t be seen acting as a couple in public. And if someone were to ever get a more intimate picture of us together, both our lives could be ruined! Damn it all to hell! Jou deserves so much better than I could ever give him. He deserves someone who could be in a relationship with him without having to hide the fact that’s he with him. I don’t even want to think about how announcing I’m gay would affect Kaiba Corp stocks… much less announcing I’m in a relationship with someone from the wrong side of the tracks. Not to say it would be easy for them to accept it if I was with someone of my social standing, but the tabloids would have a field day if I was dating someone from a broken home with an alcoholic father. They would think he was just a moneygrubber. Jou deserves better than that. He deserves someone who could be in an honest relationship with him.”

Seto turned to head back into his room. “I need to stop this love now before it gets out of hand. Jou deserves better. I’d rather see him with Seth than see him hurt by being with me… All right, now I know I’ve been here too long. I’m losing my mind, thinking Jou would be better off with that damned doppelganger!”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Namu pricked his finger with the blade of a knife just so he could heal himself.

“Will you quit doing that?” asked Bakura, “I know you’re surprised about being able to heal still, but that’s starting to get annoying!”

Namu slapped the knife down on the table. “Sorry, Bakura, but I just don’t understand how the Gods can still grant me my healing powers when I have taken a life. I know I took her life to spare the Pharaoh from having to marry her, and the Pharaoh is favored by the Gods… but it doesn’t make sense.”

“Does everything have to make sense, lovely?” asked Bakura.

“Yes!”

Bakura laughed. He pulled Namu to him and kissed his lips. “Not everything in the world makes sense, Namu, but I think the Gods let you keep your gift because you still need it. There is still a task they need you to do.”

Namu looked at Bakura. “You’re right, and I think I know what task they require of me.”

“What would that be?”

“I can’t say…”

“Well… tell those Gods I don’t want to lose you,” said Bakura.

“I will,” said Namu.

- - Modern Day - -

“So…”

“Things were different then. Love was easier then,” said Yugi.

“Okay, so let me get this straight,” said Malik, “Bakura and Namu, who looked like me, were lovers. Guys who look like Otogi and Honda were lovers. Mai and Isis were lovers. Shizuka and Mokuba were lovers. Seto and Jou’s look-a-likes were in love. And Anzu’s look-a-like was supposed to marry the Yugi look-a-like.”

Yugi nodded.

“So does that mean we were all meant to love each other that way in this time?” asked Malik looking sadly at the floor.

“I refuse to believe that,” said Ryou, “There are some of us here who were never in the past.”

“Like Marik,” said Bakura as he sat in his spirit form in front of Ryou’s chair, “and Ryou.”

“And you’d think if Malik was supposed to love Bakura, that I would probably be meant to love Ryou,” said Marik, “but I don’t. I love Malik.”

Malik quickly turned around in his seat and he kissed the spiritual lips of the crazy, blond Marik who sat in the chair behind him and wrapped him in ghostly arms. “Love you too.”

“I don’t think all of the couplings from the past were the true couplings of our souls,” said the other Yugi, “I didn’t love the woman I was to marry. I had met someone like Yugi in the past, for a split moment in time, but he died… or maybe he never lived and was always a part of me. He was the one I loved, just as he is now. I think we were meant to be split souls and to love our others.”

“I guess in retrospect, I love you sounds so clichéd,” said Marik.

- - 3000 years ago - -

Seto stormed into the Inner Sanctum with a poorly clothed man following a few steps behind. He bowed down before Atemu. “Forgive the intrusion, my Pharaoh, but I bring urgent news.”

“What is it, Seto?” asked Atemu.

“This is one of the members of my underground network,” said Seto motioning to the man who now prostrated himself in front of Atemu, “and he’s found out where Bakura the Thief King, or should I say Dorobo Bakudan, is residing with Namu.” He noted the raised eyebrow on more than one of the priest and priestesses faces. “And it gets worse. It would seem Namu has actually joined the enemy forces as their personal healer.”

“I was not finished giving my report, Master Kaiba,” whispered the man.

Seto turned to look at the man. “Go on. What haven’t you told me?”

“Healer Namu is no longer a healer… He is a murderer. From a distance, I watched Namu and Dorobo Bakudan trail a caravan and kill everyone there. One was a woman, bearing the Pharaoh’s mark upon her body,” said the man loudly enough for all to hear.

“They killed Teana!” exclaimed Isis with a smile.

“Namu killed the woman himself,” said the man.

“Namu has betrayed us,” said Otogi.

“I’m not so sure,” said Mai closing her eyes, “I will send one of my cats to Namu. She will return and tell me Namu’s true loyalty. Where is Namu located?”

“An abandoned house on the edge of the city,” said the man.

“La-Shee is on her way to find Namu,” said Mai opening her eyes, “Namu has always liked La-Shee. She will be able to tell what is truly in Namu’s heart. If his loyalty is to the murderer-thief, La-Shee will tell me. But I don’t believe that is the case. I think Namu killed Teana as a way to help you, Atemu.”

“You may be right,” said Atemu, “but he still would have become a murderer and lost his healing ability.”

“Not necessarily actually,” said Isis, “You may return to your duty, spy.”

The man crawled backwards out of the room.

“Elaborate, Isis,” said Seth.

“She means if Teana’s death was the will of the Gods, Namu would still be able to heal,” said Atemu, “I have heard tales of rogue healers before, but I thought they were merely fables.”

“I cannot see a future for my youngest brother,” said Isis.

“Mai, Otogi, go with Seto and meet with Hiroto. It is time plans were made to apprehend Dorobo Bakudan and end his murderous ways,” said Atemu. “I will leave the details to you.”

“As you wish,” said Otogi standing from his seat and heading out with Seto and Mai. “Do you have any ideas, Seto?”

“Just one,” said Seto, “and I’m not sure if it will work.”

“We can probably make it work,” said Mai.

Seto lead them into Hiroto’s room where the guard sat sharpening some weapons, and he began to tell them of his plan.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Seto took his cold drink onto the balcony and saw Jou leaning against the railing and staring out at the night sky. “Jou? I haven’t seen you all day, and I was looking for you.”

Jou turned his troubled eyes to Seto’s face.

“What’s wrong?” asked Seto moving to Jou’s side quickly.

“I don’t know what to do!” exclaimed Jou as a few tears rolled from his eyes.

“Here,” said Seto pushing his cup into Jou’s hand, “start by drinking this.”

Jou’s hands shook as he lifted the cup to his lips and took a small drink.

“What’s wrong, Jou? What’s going on?”

“It’s Seth,” whispered Jou passing the cup back and slowly lowering himself to the stone balcony.

“If he’s hurt you I will kill him!” exclaimed Seto angrily.

“He asked me to marry him!”

Seto dropped his cup only for it to shatter, and the liquid splattered over both their legs. “He asked you to marry him? So that means… we’re stuck here. There’s no way for them to send us home!”

Jou started sobbing quietly. “That’s not it! He found it. He found the way to send us home! He told me that right after he asked me! He can’t force me to stay, but he wants me to choose to! He wants me to forget about my life back home, forget about my friends, forget about my sister and y… He wants me to stay here and marry him!”

“If you love him… Damn him for asking you that! That asshole!” exclaimed Seto. He knelt beside Jou and pulled the blond into his arms. “Don’t shed your tears over him. He’s not worth it.”

“I don’t know what I should do… I care for him, but I care for you too. I have friends here and back home. There is no obvious right or wrong answer,” said Jou drying his eyes with Seto’s clothing, “and it’s a decent offer. I haven’t gotten an offer like that back home…”

“Really? I’m surprised your best friend hasn’t tried to make the moves on you.”

Jou took a deep breath and sighed. “What would you do?”

“First I’d decide if I love him enough to spend the rest of my life with him.” Seto rubbed Jou’s back. “It’s a big decision and once you make it you can’t undo it.”

“You couldn’t make me a better offer, could you?” whispered Jou.

=====
Seto moved all the papers around to look at them. They all shared a common picture of him with his arms wrapped around Jou and kissing him full on the lips. He read the headlines aloud, “CEO gay, stocks declining… CEO caught having sex in public with another boy… Seto Kaiba screws mutt! … Seto Kaiba: slumming? … Jounouchi Katsuya, prostitute to the rich?”
=====

“I can’t, Jou… You can’t ask me to give you a reason to tell Seth yes or no. It’s not my decision,” said Seto standing up and pulling Jou to his feet, “Let’s get you into bed. Just relax tonight. You can think it over tomorrow.” He helped Jou into the blond’s room and put him into bed.

Jou tugged on Seto’s wrist. “Stay with me…”

Seto nodded and slid into the bed beside Jou. He gave the blond a quick kiss on the lips, and he wrapped his arms around the other. “Go to sleep, Jou, and pleasant dreams.”

“Sweet dreams, Seto,” whispered Jou snuggling into the brunet’s chest, “Sweet dreams.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“Bakura!” exclaimed Tekh entering the tomb robber’s room without knocking. He blushed slightly when he saw Namu, naked and impaled upon Bakura’s cock.

“What the fuck do you want?” screamed Bakura as Namu continued to ride him.

“We’re being invaded!” exclaimed Tekh.

“By who?” exclaimed Namu slamming down on Bakura’s cock and screaming out his release.

“The High Priest, the Priestess of Bastet, and most of the Pharaonic Guard!” exclaimed Tekh.

“Shit!” exclaimed Bakura. He kissed Namu before pushing his lover off and climbing from the bed.

“What do we do, Bakura?” asked Namu grabbing his clothes and slipping them on quickly.

Bakura put his own clothes on. “We eliminate them!”

Namu bit his lip. “If we must…”

“Yeah! Let’s kill someone!” exclaimed Tekh running out of the room.

“You don’t have to help me with this, Namu,” said Bakura, “This isn’t your fight. They were your friends.”

“And I love you now. I won’t let you go out there alone.”

Bakura kissed Namu before pulling him out of the room and up to the roof.

Tekh screamed from his position on the ground as the guards overpowered him and slayed him with their swords.

Namu gasped at the sight of something he never thought he would see again, a Red-Eyes Black Dragon hovering above the building. Then he noticed the other dragon behind it, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon with Seth upon it’s back.

“Seth? The Red-Eyes!” exclaimed Namu.

“I’m pleased you both could join the party, Dorobo Bakudan, Namu!” exclaimed Seth, “And I’m sure you both remember my friends! It would seem that even though Jono is dead, his dragon will still respond to his draconic lover! Red-Eyes! Blue-Eyes! Destroy Dorobo Bakudan!”

The two dragons roared in unison. Their respective blasts flew through the air.

“No! Bakura!” exclaimed Namu shoving the white-haired man out of the way and taking the blast himself, “I love you, Bakura. Make great your escape!”

“Namu!” screamed Bakura.

“Go! I’m already dead, Bakura! You must go before it’s too late!” exclaimed Namu.

“I love you, Namu,” said Bakura before disappearing into the shadows and stone, a special gift the tomb robber used to great advantage in his occupation.

“Namu!” exclaimed Seth, “I’m sorry!”

“Don’t be… I didn’t choose this fate. The Gods chose it for me, Seth. Wish everyone well and goodbye…” And with those final words, all that yet remained of Namu vanished in the fierce blasts from the lover dragons, and Bakura left his refuge to start again and find a new way to destroy the Pharaoh with a new reason among many to do so.

Seth’s dragon landed and he climbed off to stand beside Mai. “Namu is dead, but Dorobo Bakudan escaped.”

“I know. I’m not looking forward to telling Isis her brother had fallen in love with a criminal and died to protect him,” said Mai turning from the scene.

“Oh, right, I forgot. You brought a cat,” said Seth wrapping his arm around Mai’s shoulders and leading her away.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Seto stood on the balcony overlooking the city. He witnessed the Blue-Eyes and the Red-Eyes together in the air and their intimate pose together before they disappeared and returned to the Shadow Realm. He shook his head and sighed his disappointment. “Jou must have learned about the plan and lent Seth the Red-Eyes to protect him. I guess that answers my question on whether or not he loved me or Seth.”

Seto stayed there all day, leaning against the balcony railing and thinking over his options… thinking about Jou and remembering his time spent with the blond since they came here to Egypt.

The sun was just about to set when Jou climbed the stairs and emerged onto the balcony behind Seto. “There you are, Seto. I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”

“I haven’t been everywhere. I’ve been here,” said Seto.

“Well, I’m glad I found you!” exclaimed Jou starting to walk towards Seto. He stopped walking when he saw Seto’s shoulders tense up. “Is something wrong, Seto?”

“No… I’ve just been doing a lot of thinking, and I think I’ve come to a conclusion that will be beneficial to all involved,” said Seto, “Especially to you.”

“Um… okay…”

“I think you should stay here with Seth.”

Jou’s eyes widened. “What?”

“I think you should stay here with Seth. I think you should marry him.”

“What about my friends back home?” asked Jou.

“I will explain everything to them. They will understand you had to follow your heart and remain with the one you love,” said Seto.

“But what about my sister?” asked Jou moving towards Seto.

“I will personally take care of her. I would treat her as if she were my own little sister.”

Jou’s eyes welled with tears. “What about you?”

“What about me? I can live without you,” said Seto, but he mentally added, ‘But I don’t really want to.’

“I… I thought I meant something to you,” whispered Jou. He wiped his eyes and took a deep breath before speaking up, “Turn around, Seto. Look me in the eyes and tell me you don’t want me. Tell me you don’t love me!”

“Why? What is the point in making you hurt just by showing you what we both know my eyes would reflect? My complete hate for you! Although I must admit, it was rather enjoyable to have you begging me to fuck you!” exclaimed Seto.

“Look at me,” said Jou.

“No!” Seto kept his eyes trained on the setting sun.

“So… all I was… all I meant to you… I was just an easy fuck?” Jou watched Seto’s body language carefully, searching for some hidden sign that the brunet really loved him and didn’t mean what he said. “You never loved me at all?”

“I never loved you at all.” Seto’s hands gripped the balcony harder.

A few splatters of water fell to the balcony floor.

Jou looked up at the sky. “It’s funny, you know. There’s not a cloud in the sky, but still, it’s raining. Rain from invisible clouds.”

“Rain from invisible clouds?” asked Seto as a few more drops of water landed between his feet. “Yes. Funny.”

“I guess you’re right,” said Jou, “Everyone would understand if I follow my heart to happiness. That’s what Osiris told me to do, and I think that’s exactly what I should do. Thank you for helping me see that, Seto.”

“I hope you are happy here with Seth.” Seto turned away from Jou. He passed by him quickly while averting his face so the blond would never be able to see the source of the raindrops. He headed down the stairs and left Jou alone on the balcony.

Jou walked over to the spot where Seto stood and he leaned against the balcony. He allowed his tears to fall as he whispered, “Yes… Rain from invisible clouds indeed… But you couldn’t look me in the eyes. You do love me. You do want me. You might have told me so if you had looked me in the eyes… But you couldn’t. And I can’t stop crying knowing you’d rather I stay here than make us both happy.”

Jou fell to his knees and cried.

Barely a moment passed before someone else ran up the stairs onto the balcony and stood behind Jou. “I thought I would find you here.”

“Leave me alone!”

“Well, if you’d rather stand around here crying your eyes out all night, I suppose I could leave you alone, cousin,” said Mai as she moved over and knelt beside Jou, “but I have the feeling you would much rather I keep you company.”

“What are you doing here?” asked Jou.

“Isis… She had a vision of you. All she saw was you crying and one of the Seth twins leaving,” said Mai pulling Jou into her arms so he cried into her chest, “Do you want to tell me what happened?”

Jou nodded. “Can we go down to your room and have a drink?”

“Of course,” said Mai helping Jou up before climbing to her feet and leading him down to her room. She quickly poured them up two cups of a fruity-tasting drink and sat down on her bed with Jou. “Start whenever you’re ready.”

Jou took a drink. “Okay… So you know I’ve slept with Seto. I haven’t slept with Seth. But Seth is the one who’s asked me to marry him. And Seto said I should do it. He loves me! I know he does! He’s just too stubborn… He’s not willing to admit he loves me. He told me to marry Seth and stay here and he would take care of everything back home!”

“And…?”

“And I don’t want to. I care for Seth. Yes, a part of me loves him, but the part of me that loves him is the part of me that was Jono. The rest of me has grown through my experiences in my various other lives. As a whole, I’ve outgrown my love for Seth. As a whole, I’ve grown into a love for Seto.”

“And you’re sure he loves you too?” asked Mai taking a drink.

“I’ve seen the look in his eyes,” said Jou smiling, “Seto loves me, but there’s something holding him back from fully loving me.”

“What do you think that something is?” asked Mai.

Jou sighed. “I’d have to say it was probably how other people would view our relationship back home. There’s no problem with two guys being together here, but it isn’t acceptable there. I’d be his dark secret if we were together back home. Course it could be something else. I haven’t told him I love him. He might think I love Seth.”

“Boys!” exclaimed Mai with a frustrated sigh. She looked sideways at Jou. “So… what are you going to do about it?”

“You’re an excellent cousin, Mai,” said Jou, “But I don’t belong here. There are people who need me at home… my sister, Yugi… Seto…”

Mai leaned against Jou. “I will miss you when you are gone.”

“I’ll miss you too, but I have to return with Seto. I’m just not going to tell him yet that I’ll be returning with him. Somehow once I’m back there, I’ll make him confess his true feelings towards me,” said Jou wrapping an arm around Mai, “I’ll make him love me as much as I love him. And if we have to hide the true nature of our relationship to ease the people’s minds and spare his trade the controversy it would bring, then I am willing to do so just to be with him.”

“And I will pray your efforts will be enough,” said Mai.

“I’ll need to speak to Atemu about returning home with Seto,” said Jou.

“In the morning?”

“Now…”

“He’s probably asleep!” exclaimed Mai as Jou stood and finished his drink.

“Well, then I’ll wait with him until he wakes up!” exclaimed Jou, “Jono used to crawl into bed with Atemu when he was greatly distressed! I’m greatly distressed now! He’ll understand!”

“You are Jono,” said Mai with a sigh, “Be gone then! I cannot stop you!”

Jou blushed as he left Mai alone in her room. He headed to Atemu’s room and slipped past the guards without a word. He smiled when he saw Atemu curled up in a position reminiscent of Yugi during one of their sleepovers. He crawled into the bed beside Atemu and lay down. “Atemu?”

Atemu rolled over and cracked open one amethyst eye. He closed his eye again. “It’s late, Jou. Can’t this wait?”

“It can… Can I sleep in here with you?” asked Jou quickly.

Atemu placed his arm around Jou and pulled the blond close to him. “Go to sleep, Jou.”

Jou wrapped his arms around Atemu and settled down beside the ruler to go to sleep.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Atemu woke up wrapped around his blond sleeping companion. He shook Jou slightly to wake him up. “Jou?”

Jou opened his eyes and smiled at the amethyst ones looking into his own. “I miss Yugi.”

“Not surprising,” said Atemu as his eyes changed from their pleasant purple into the dark crimson, “Now… what’s disturbing you?”

“Seto and Seth again,” said Jou.

“I see. Seth informed me he asked you to marry him,” said Atemu sitting up.

Jou sat up beside Atemu. “Yes, he has. I have my answer, but I haven’t told him yet.”

“Why not?” asked Atemu.

“Because my answer is no. I can’t marry him when I’m in love with Seto,” said Jou, “I need to return to my time… I need you to help me return with Seto. I don’t know if Seto has talked to you about leaving yet, but I need to go with him. Seth told me you guys had found a way for it to happen.”

“Yes… We can send you home,” said Atemu, “You are sure that is what you want?”

“I need to go home. You’re a great friend to me, Atemu, but you’re no Yugi. Shizuru isn’t my sister. My real sister misses me. I can feel her pain from here,” said Jou leaning into Atemu who pulled him into a comforting embrace, “There are people who need me back home, and there’s someone who will need me back home once he gets there. I like it here, but it’s not home.”

“I understand,” said Atemu, “When would you like to return?”

“Let Seto decide. He’s the one who needs this vacation the most. He is always so busy back home. He doesn’t take a single moment for himself. He’s always working or taking care of his little brother,” said Jou.

“All right.”

“But don’t tell him I’m going with him! He told me to stay here and marry Seth!” exclaimed Jou, “I think he’s under the impression that’s what I want.”

Atemu smiled. “We’ll miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too! But at least I won’t miss you completely. I’ll have everyone’s future selves with me, and you’re there too sort of,” said Jou, “Thank you, Atemu! You are the best friend a guy could have!”

“But I’m no Yugi, I know!” exclaimed Atemu laughing and hugging Jou tighter, “Now go! I have to get ready for my day and so do you!”

Jou kissed Atemu on his cheek before climbing from the bed and hurrying out of the room.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“Might I have a word with you, Atemu?” asked Seto as the weary Pharaoh stepped out of his long morning meeting.

“As long as we can do it somewhere quiet,” said Atemu leading Seto to the gardens, “What do you wish to speak about?”

“Has Seth found the way for me to return to my time?” asked Seto.

“Yes, as a matter of fact, he has. We were waiting for the timing to be right before we sent you home,” said Atemu, “Are you anxious to leave?”

“Yes. I would like to leave as soon as possible.”

“And what of Jou? What does he want?” asked Atemu.

“He’ll be staying here with Seth,” said Seto clenching his fists.

“Oh.” Atemu hung his head. “I’m sorry. I know he was a good friend of yours.”

“He means a lot to me.”

“I believe we could make the arrangements for this afternoon, but I’m not so sure if the moon phase is quite accurate. I will need to check with my advisors and get back to you on when exactly we could do it,” said Atemu, “but I will make the arrangements and tell you when we can send you back home.”

“How does it work exactly? This process to return me to my time?” asked Seto.

“Seth would have to once again control the Shadow Magic he used to bring you forth, and reverse it to send you home. He will need to have control over Jono’s Time Wizard to do so, but Jono’s monsters seem to be responding to him. I believe Jono’s love for Seth has been transferred to his monsters. You will also need to have the Time Wizard that belongs to Jou so you could use it at the same time as Seth,” explained Atemu, “It is an old magic… just as forbidden as the spell Seth used which brought you here in the first place, but I am willing to forgive the use of the forbidden spells as the will of the Gods.”

“And you’re sure it will work?” asked Seto.

“As sure as I am Pharaoh of our Great Lands!”

Seto nodded. “As soon as possible then.”

Atemu nodded his head. “Yes. I’m sure your family and friends miss you very much.”

“My brother must miss me,” said Seto.

“And friends?” Atemu raised an eyebrow.

“Who needs them!” exclaimed Seto, “I have no friends and want no friends!”

“Your life must be lonely,” said Atemu before turning and walking away.

“I don’t think it’s all that lonely,” said Seto calling after Atemu. He sighed once the other was out of earshot. “But,” he muttered, “It would be nice to have someone to share it with. Damn puppy loving someone else…”
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I Almost Had You