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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
- 12
- 13
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 Thirteen
They Don’t Understand

- - Modern Day - -

Jou woke up with Seto resting his head on his stomach, and he smiled. He tried not to move too much or wake the other up, but he couldn’t resist the urge to stroke the hair away from Seto’s serene face. “I love you, Seto.”

Seto’s lips curved into a slight smile. “I know.”

“How long have you been awake?” asked Jou.

“About a half hour. I didn’t want to wake you.” Seto slowly opened his eyes. “You still look tired.”

“I always do in the morning. I need about ten hours of sleep a night and I rarely manage over seven,” said Jou continuing to stroke Seto’s hair.

Seto sat up slowly and stared into Jou’s eyes. “I love you, too.”

“I know.” Jou smiled.

“So what would you like to do today?” asked Seto.

“What about school?”

“We’re skipping today,” said Seto, “so we can spend some time together… work on our relationship… decide how we want to announce it… maybe make love some more.”

“Sounds great!” Jou’s smile turned lecherous. He lunged towards Seto knocking him backwards onto the mattress. He lowered his mouth to the brunet’s for a quick kiss. “Can we have breakfast first?”

Seto nodded.

Jou climbed out of bed and pulled Seto up into his arms to carry him into the bathroom.

“Do you want to bathe together?” asked Seto.

“Not today. I just figured you’d want a shower first. I’m going to throw on some clothes and go meet your household staff!” exclaimed Jou lowering Seto, “I’ll take a quick shower when you’re done.”

“There’s a guest bedroom on the left that should be empty. You could take your shower in there.”

“Don’t be disappointed. I just don’t want to molest you on an empty stomach, and I’m starving!” exclaimed Jou giving Seto another quick kiss before running from the bathroom and throwing on his Egyptian clothing. He stepped back into the bathroom to find Seto just stepping into the shower. “Hey, Seto, do you think I could borrow some of your clothes?”

“Anything you want,” said Seto.

“Thanks!” Jou headed back out and rummaged through Seto’s closet for a few minutes before finding something to wear and going into the next room to shower and change. As he shed his Egyptian clothing once again, he thought back on the friends he made in Egypt.

- - Enter Jou’s Memory - -
My mind was rather fuzzy like I’d just woken up. I felt dizzy, and I didn’t want to open my eyes. Maybe I’d just stay like this for awhile.

“What… what are you doing here?” asked Seto.

“Hhh?” asked Namu.

“Why are you speaking that ridiculous language?” snapped Seto.

Namu spoke again. “Hh hhh hhhhhhhhhh hh?”

“Is this some kind of joke to you, Ishtar?”

“Ow… shit… what time is it now!” I groaned as I opened my eyes and sat up. I saw Seto standing not too far from me.

Namu turned his innocent, angelic smile towards me. “Hhhhh. Hh hhhh hh Namu. Hhh hhh hhhh? Hhh hhh hhhhhhhhhh hh?”

I looked at Namu with wide eyes. I screamed and yelled. Seto rolled his eyes. “What the fuck are you doing here, Malik?”

“Malik?” asked Namu in confusion, “Hhh hhh hhhhhhh hh ‘Malik’?”

I jumped to my feet and continued yelling at ‘Malik’.

Namu stood up. “Hhh hhh hhhh?”

“What the hell did you do now you fucking psychopath, Malik!” I clenched my fist and punched Namu square in the left eye before Namu even saw what I planned to do.

The guards rushed forward and restrained me so I couldn’t complete my second strike on Namu. Two of the guards also grabbed Seto and prevented him from moving, not that he actually tried to.

“Hhh hhh hhh hhhhh, Namu?” asked Hiroto.

“Hh hhhhhh hhhh hhhh hhhh,” said Namu touching his already bruising flesh. He winced and closed his eyes.

Seto watched curiously as a lavender light surrounded Namu’s hand and seeped into his skin.

Namu removed his hand. “Hhhhh! Hhh hhhhhh!”

I struggled fiercely against the guards holding me hostage. I didn’t notice when Hiroto moved up to me in a blind rage and punched me as hard as he could in the face. I fell limp in the guards’ arms and panted heavily.

“Hhh hhhh hhh hhhhhh h hhhhhh!” shouted Hiroto.

“Why can’t you people speak a language so I can understand you? I speak Japanese, English, and French. What the hell is going on here!” I screamed turning my head back to look at my attacker. My eyes widened and I threw the guards off. I pulled Hiroto into a brotherly hug. “Honda! Osiris, I wake up to see Malik beside me! What the hell’s going on? How’d you get here, Honda?”

Hiroto blushed a bright burgundy, which showed off extremely well on his tan skin.

Seth and Atemu stood side by side in the shadows and tried desperately to hide their snickers of amusement.

Seto looked towards the shadows where he heard some sounds being made. “Who’s over there?”

Hiroto shoved me away from him. “Hhhh hhhhh hh!”

I laughed at the expression of utter shock and embarrassment on Hiroto’s face as I pulled my supposed spiked haired friend into a headlock only to grind my fist into the top of Hiroto’s head.

Hiroto screamed in shock and tried to shove me away again.

Seto continued to watch the shadows until Seth stepped out of them. His eyes widened. “Who are you?”

Seth sighed. “H hh hhhh hhh hhhh hhh hhhhhhhh hhhh hh. Hh hhhh hhhhhhhhhh h hhhh hhhhh hhhhhh!”

I released Hiroto and fell to the floor in shock.

Seth held out his Millennium Rod towards Seto and mumbled some magical words in a quiet tone.

A shadow shot from the decorated head of the rod and passed straight through Seto’s chest.

Seto gasps and fell to his knees. “Hhhh hhh hhhh hhh hhhh?”

“Kaiba? What the hell happened to you?” I asked.

“Hhhh hhhh… Hhhh hhhhhh hhhh hhh hh h hhhhhh,” said Seth slowly, “Hhhh hh hhh hhhh hhhhhh hh hhhhhhhhhh hhh hhhhhhhh.”

“Hhh hhh hh hhhhhh!” snapped Seto.

Seth aimed his rod at me and repeated his words so the shadow once again emerged from the rod and passed through my chest.

I gasped and nearly lost consciousness at the sensation of being swallowed alive by the shadow.

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

“You are… you were Jono once upon a time.” Shada looked at the pile of plants dying at my feet. His eyes widened. “What have you done?”

“What?” I asked quickly following Shada’s gaze to the plants, “I’ve just been plucking weeds!”

“Those are not weeds! They are powerful healing herbs!” exclaimed Shada.

“Really? They look like weeds to me!”

“The weeds are the ones with flowers!” exclaimed Shada, “Quickly, we must gather up these herbs and rush them to Namu! Perhaps he can spare them from their death long enough to cure them!”

“Um… okay, I understood up to the ‘get the herbs to Namu’ part!” I exclaimed helping Shada to gather the herbs into our arms. “Seriously, they look like weeds to me.”

“You are Jono. You are Jono,” said Shada as we stood and he led me into the palace.

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

Mai blinked at me in confusion. “You look… so different, cousin.”

“I am different, cousin,” I said smiling and taking Mai’s hand.

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

“You wretched ghost! Leave us alone! Haven’t you caused enough pain already?” exclaimed the boy glaring at me with an expression that would rival Seto’s on his best day.
- - Exit Jou’s Memory - -

“So many friends.” Jou shook his head at the memories. He stepped into the shower and let the water run over his body. As the heat seeped through his skin, his thoughts turned to Seth. “He gave me my first kiss from a guy, and he gave me an offer I couldn’t refuse, but I did. Someday I might regret not accepting his marriage proposal, but it’s too late now. He was quite helpful to me. I never really had a dream come true until the day I met him. He helped me see a lot of dreams I never even realized I had. I’m sure some part of me will always remember him. The part of me that was Jono will always be with him. I’ll never forget what he’s done for Seto and I. He brought us together by trying to get with me.”

“Good-bye, Seth. Thank you for all you’ve done for me,” said Jou.

- - 2000 Years Ago - -

A young merchant named Sephiroth stepped into the temporary shop of a traveling salesman. He stopped in his tracks when he saw a pair of soulful amber eyes staring into his. He cleared his throat and spoke, “I have come on behalf of my father to inspect your wares and see if some alliance could be made to grant you a permanent location in our humble town.”

“And what is your name?” asked the other man, equally as young as Sephiroth.

Sephiroth raised an eyebrow as his sapphire eyes bore into the other merchant. “What is your name?”

“Jonoueth,” said the blond haired young man giving a smile to the brunet.

“Sephiroth.” The brunet turned his eyes from the blond in order to look at the ornate and mundane pottery around him.

“Do you see anything you like, Sephiroth?” asked Jonoueth.

Sephiroth turned his eyes back to Jonoueth. “I see one thing here I like.”

Jonoueth blushed. “Everything here is for sale, for a price.”

“Really now?” Sephiroth moved towards Jonoueth as he continued to speak, “And what of you? Are you also for sale, for a price?”

“I am no slave!” Jonoueth’s eyes flared with anger.

“Too bad. You’re the only thing in this shop I’d be interested in purchasing,” said Sephiroth with a sigh, “Although your wares do seem solid enough. I could be persuaded to put in a good word with my father for you.”

“Persuaded how?”

Sephiroth smiled. “What would you give me to assure your petition to open shop here goes smoothly?”

Jonoueth sighed. “I really need to get settled in some town or other. My sister is living with me now in the absence of our parents, and I need to protect her. I can’t do that if I’m always traveling. I’d give you anything you ask if it would help me protect her.”

“Even your heart?” whispered Sephiroth.

Jonoueth gasped and his eyes widened.

Sephiroth’s eyes twinkled as he turned towards the door, but he looked over his shoulder before exiting. “Meet my brother and I tonight for dinner. Bring your sister. We’ll discuss this arrangement later.”

“Are you trying to seduce me, Sephiroth?” asked Jonoueth.

“Only if it’s working,” said Sephiroth.

“It is,” said Jonoueth.

Sephiroth smiled. “Good. I’ll see you tonight. Don’t change. I like what you’re wearing.”

“Where do I meet you?” asked Jonoueth as Sephiroth walked out the door.

“At the palace,” called Sephiroth.

Jonoueth spun in a circle before returning to work with a huge grin permanently fixed to his features. Immediately after closing up the shop, he headed into his tent where his partially blind sister sat with a lump of clay on a pottery wheel. “Shimika, we’re going out to dinner tonight.”

“Did you have a good day at work?” asked Shimika smiling, “Do I need to make a lot of pottery to replenish our stock?”

“Actually, work was terrible. I didn’t sell a single piece, but I did get a date with a very attractive guy, and he has a brother!” exclaimed Jonoueth wrapping his arms around Shimika.

“You have a date?” asked Shimika in shock.

“Yeah. About time, huh?”

“Well… if we don’t hurry, we’ll be late for your very first date!” exclaimed Shimika, “What do I wear?”

“Silly girl, you’re beautiful! Don’t change. We’ll just get that pretty bird clip I got for your hair and we can be off,” said Jonoueth moving to a chest and grabbing a hair barrette from inside. He moved to pull Shimika’s auburn brown hair away from her face and attach the clip to keep it there.

Shimika washed her hands quickly and dried them on the underside of her apron before removing it and setting it on her work stool. “Let’s go, big brother!”

Jonoueth took Shimika’s arm to help guide her, and they headed out of the tent together. He guided her to the palace where they passed the guards without a single glance.

Sephiroth and his younger brother met Jonoueth and Shimika right outside the main entrance to the palace.

“I’m sorry if we’re a little late,” said Jonoueth blushing, “My sister just insisted on changing.”

“Quite all right,” said Sephiroth, “This is my brother, Moukou.”

Shimika curtseyed. “I am Shimika.”

“This is Sephiroth, Shimika,” said Jonoueth taking her arm once again.

“So… you’re Jonoueth,” said Moukou looking between the brother and sister. “Is there something wrong with your sister?”

“I do not see very well,” said Shimika, “and soon I may not be able to see at all.”

“Come now. We mustn’t dally too long or dinner will get cold,” said Sephiroth, “Moukou, would you mind escorting Shimika inside?”

Moukou blushed. “Of course, Sephiroth.”

Sephiroth offered his arm to Jonoueth, which the blond haired boy happily accepted once his sister released his arm in favor of the arm of the younger, black haired boy.

Together, they entered the palace and made their way to a small dining hall with a cozy table set for four.

As Sephiroth helped Jonoueth into his seat, he whispered into the other’s ear, “I want you to sleep with me tonight so I might love you to the fullest.”

Shimika and Moukou sat down and chatted amicably as Jonoueth grabbed Sephiroth’s shirt and pulled the brunet to him for a swift kiss.

Sephiroth smiled.

“I’m not easy, Sephiroth. Until I know you love me, all you’ll get are kisses from me,” said Jonoueth, “but I might let you talk me into sleeping beside you tonight.”

“Then that will be good enough,” said Sephiroth forcing Jonoueth into a long kiss, “I’ve already spoken to my father. As head of the council he was able to sway the rest of the committee. You can stay and set up a permanent shop in our town… so long as you obey all the laws of course.”

“Thank you,” said Shimika, “That means a lot to us.”

Sephiroth sat down beside Jonoueth as the palace servants brought in the food.

“How is it that you live in the palace?” asked Shimika.

“Our cousin is the ruler here,” said Sephiroth, “His father and ours were twin brothers, but his was a bit older… no more than an hour but the line of succession fell upon him.”

“Oh,” said Shimika.

“But it leaves us plenty of time to pursue other interests, so I’m not bothered about it,” said Sephiroth, “After all, I would never get to go out and see fair haired beauties like your brother if I was Sultan.”

Shimika smiled. “You think my brother’s beautiful?”

“Rare, exotic, and quite beautiful,” said Sephiroth, “Like the pottery you sell… just more valuable.”

“If you keep saying things like that, I doubt it would be long before my brother is your wife!” exclaimed Shimika laughing.

“Hey! Why would I have to be the girl?” exclaimed Jonoueth blushing burgundy.

“Because you are the most beautiful,” said Sephiroth simply, “Now eat and enjoy. There is plenty of food if you need more.”

Jonoueth leaned closer to Sephiroth as he began eating. “I wouldn’t mind being the girl for you if you always feed me this well.”

“Consider it done,” said Sephiroth, “You both could move in here with us. Then you could eat like royalty all the time.”

Jonoueth kissed Sephiroth to silence him.

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

“I feel like I’ve known you before,” said Jonoueth as he lay in Sephiroth’s bed that night.

“But we haven’t. I have grown up here my entire life,” said Sephiroth lying down next to Jonoueth, “and you have just recently come to town. Although I must admit, when I first saw you, my heart recognized you too.”

“Maybe it was our destiny to be together!” exclaimed Jonoueth.

“Then I love the fates,” said Sephiroth gently stroking Jonoueth’s face, “for bringing you to me, and while I wish you would allow me the pleasure of being intimate with you tonight, I will respect your decision to wait until we know each other better. Once our love is confirmed though, your body and mine will dance.”

Jonoueth slid further up against Sephiroth and smiled before he kissed him long and slow. “Tonight we sleep. Tomorrow we dance.”

“Tomorrow?” Sephiroth raised an eyebrow.

“My heart speaks… It says you have always been mine, and I have eternally been yours,” said Jonoueth closing his eyes and resting his head on Sephiroth’s shoulder.

“I think I love you too,” said Sephiroth closing his eyes.

No sooner were they both asleep before masked figures entered the room and reached for a sleeping figure.

“No!” screamed Sephiroth waking from his dream and pulling Jonoueth away from the intruder.

Jonoueth jolted awake at the other’s cry. He screamed for help as he saw the knife blade sink into Sephiroth’s gut.

The attackers faded back into the shadows of the night as Jonoueth held Sephiroth close to him and tried to stop the bleeding from the wound.

“I’m sorry… We won’t get our chance to dance,” said Sephiroth, “Meet me in the next life. I will be waiting for you, my Jonoueth, my love.”

“Sephiroth! Please, no, don’t die!” exclaimed Jonoueth, “I love you.”

“I had… to… protect you.” Sephiroth died in Jonoueth’s arms.

- - 1000 Years Ago - -

The blond haired boy struggled as he’s drug out of his father’s shop. “What the hell are you doing to me?”

“You’re no good for business, Jonei… You’re useless with numbers. You’re so clumsy you wreck half the stores. You will never succeed me here,” said the blond’s father, “So I have sold you.”

“What?” Jonei screeched.

“You are to be a slave now, an unpaid servant of our Great Emperor! Maybe he’ll kill you if he finds you as useless as I!”

“Father! No!” exclaimed Jonei.

“Take him away,” said the man waving off the traders who drug Jonei further and further away from his former home.

“Shut up, mongrel!” exclaimed a trader punching Jonei roughly in the gut.

Jonei gasped for breath and quit struggling as he tried to regain it. He didn’t regain his proper breathing until he’d already made it deep inside the Imperial Palace. He would have immediately begun struggling again if the wondrous objects around him didn’t look so fantastic and new to him. He fell on his face when the traders shoved him roughly into a position of subjugation. “Hey, what the hell are you doing?”

“Silence!” commanded a rich voice.

Jonei looked up to see the speaker, but he only got a glimpse of the dark brown hair before his face was shoved into the floor hard enough to break his nose.

“Who is this?” asked a different, somehow more regal voice than the first.

“A slave for your Highness,” said one of the traders.

“Let’s see him then,” said the voice again.

The traders held Jonei firmly so he couldn’t struggle, and they lifted him up.

Jonei’s eyes scanned the room quickly, identifying the regal voice as coming from the person sitting upon the throne with black and red hair and a few blond bangs peeking out beneath the hat on his head. His honey colored eyes locked onto the almost amethyst but not quite red eyes for a moment before they snapped onto the perfect blue eyes of the brown haired man standing next to the throne.

“What do you think, Emperor Yu?” asked the brown haired man slightly licking his lips.

“I don’t think I have any use for him,” said Yu noticing his subordinate’s reaction to seeing the blond, “What do you think, Seferet?”

“I suppose I could find some jobs for the mutt to do. I have always wanted a pet,” said Seferet, “And I’m sure I could house train him with little time away from my regular duties.”

“Very well, then. He is your dog now,” said Yu, “You two, take the boy to Seferet’s chambers!” He turned to Seferet as the traders pulled Jonei up and dragged him from the room. “I’ll give you the rest of the day to get to know your new pet.”

“Thank you, Emperor Yu,” said Seferet. He headed off to his room where he found Jonei tied up and gagged on the floor. “They do quick work.”

Jonei looked at Seferet with a mix of anger and embarrassment in his eyes.

Seferet knelt beside Jonei and ran his fingers over the cloth gag. “If I remove this, will you be civil, quiet, and well mannered?”

Jonei lowered his eyes and sighed. He nodded his head slowly.

Seferet untied the cloth and removed it from Jonei’s mouth. Then he stroked the softly tanned cheek.

Jonei tried to bite the hand upon his cheek.

“Don’t bite!” exclaimed Seferet backhanding Jonei, “Bad dog!”

“I’m not a dog!”

“You are what I say you are! You are mine!” Seferet’s eyes flashed with anger.

“I belong to no one. I am free…”

“Not anymore. You belong to me now,” said Seferet grabbing Jonei’s face and forcing their eyes to meet, “I am your master, and you will do as I say or you will die a slow and painful death! Am I understood?”

Jonei glanced away. “Yes.”

“Yes? Yes, what?”

“Yes, I understand… master,” the last word a mere whisper from Jonei’s lips.

“Good dog,” said Seferet licking his lips. He caressed Jonei’s silky blond hair. “My name is Seferet, and when you are good, you may call me that, but only when we are alone. Whenever anyone else is near, you will address me as ‘master’. Is that understood, puppy?”

“Yes… Seferet,” said Jonei.

“And who are you? What is your name?”

“Jonei.”

“I think I like calling you a dog better,” said Seferet. He smirked. “Tell me, Jonei, how pure are you?”

“Pure?” Jonei tilted his head to the side very much like a curious dog.

“Have you ever been kissed? Touched? Loved?” asked Seferet moving his hands across Jonei’s bound body to further explain his questioning.

Jonei gasped. “Never.”

“Even better. Be good for me and I’ll untie you,” said Seferet before sealing his mouth to Jonei’s.

Jonei’s eyes widened and his mouth opened in shock. He stayed perfectly frozen as Seferet’s tongue entered his mouth to explore. After a long moment, he closed his eyes and relaxed into his first kiss.

Seferet pulled back breathing heavily and looked at Jonei’s peaceful face. He smiled for just a moment while the other couldn’t see.

Jonei opened his eyes. “Was I good, master?”

“Quite,” said Seferet before slowly untying the ropes and releasing Jonei.

Jonei rubbed his wrists where the tight rope burned his skin.

“What were you before you were given to me?” asked Seferet.

“I was a merchant’s son. I was supposed to take over the family business, but he didn’t think I could do it, and my mother wanted a daughter,” said Jonei, “So… due to the Imperial Orders on child reproduction… they sent me away so they can try to have another child.”

“Tell me about yourself,” said Seferet pulling Jonei to lie on the bed with him, “What do you like?”

“I like… games,” whispered Jonei.

“Games? Would you like to play a game with me now?” asked Seferet.

Jonei’s eyes lit up. “What kind of game?”

“Any game… I have all sorts. Look at the walls,” said Seferet to which Jonei’s eyes turned to his surroundings for the first time to see the multitude of games upon shelves and tables around the room.

“Any game?” asked Jonei lifting himself up to get a better look at some of the games, “I don’t know all of these. Could you teach me them?”

“If you are good and do as I say,” said Seferet. “I will reward you by teaching you a new game.”

Jonei smiled and lowered his body to the bed beside Seferet where he proceeded to quickly kiss the brunet.

Seferet wrapped his arms around Jonei and deepened the kiss.

Jonei pulled out of the kiss to pant heavily into Seferet’s chest. He shivered as he whispered, “Am I to be your bed mate, master? Is that why you are interested in my purity?”

“I will give you a little time to get used to your other duties before I introduce you to that particular one,” said Seferet, “although a beautiful creature like you will not stay pure long in my presence.”

Jonei nodded and continued shaking.

“Now… shall we play a game? You can pick any one you wish,” said Seferet.

Jonei slowly moved and sat up. He climbed from the bed and rushed to grab a game he was quite familiar with. He brought the board and its pieces over to the bed. “How about this one?”

“Set it up,” said Seferet nodding.

Jonei smiled as he set up the game on the bed.

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

Months passed, and Jonei became Seferet’s constant companion and a more than willing concubine. He even went so far on occasion as to beg for sex when Seferet wasn’t in the mood.

“You little slut,” said Seferet shoving Jonei onto his back in the middle of their bed.

“Yes!” exclaimed Jonei thrusting his hips into Seferet’s.

Seferet removed Jonei’s clothing quickly. He kissed his lover’s body.

“Seferet… Seferet! … I love you…”

Seferet froze. He looked down at Jonei.

“Seferet?” Jonei looked up at Seferet with crinkled eyebrows.

“You what?”

“I love you,” said Jonei.

“You… you can’t… you shouldn’t,” said Seferet.

“I do,” said Jonei quietly. He lowered his eyes. “I’m sorry, master. I did not mean to upset you.”

“I should have expected this,” said Seferet pulling Jonei into his embrace, “I was the only person you had regular contact with. I was your first lover. It would be all too easy for you to fall in love with me, but you shouldn’t have, Jonei. You are my slave and my whore. I can’t love you in return.”

“I know,” said Jonei kissing Seferet’s lips quickly, “I know you can’t love me, but I wanted you to know that I do love you. I have accepted my fate.”

“I’m sorry, Jonei. You are too wonderful to live like this,” said Seferet, “but if it is what you wish to live with me like this, then I will happily continue on.”

“I am happy like this,” said Jonei blushing, “but I would be happier if you would hurry up and take care of this erection I’ve got.”

Seferet kissed Jonei and whispered very quietly, “Tell no one a single word of this, but I do love you, Jonei. I’m just not permitted to love you or anyone for that matter.”

“I know,” whispered Jonei quietly, “I love you, Seferet. Now please, make love to me.”

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

Jonei rushed to meet Seferet in the garden. He slowed down when he heard voices up ahead.

“I don’t think you have any choice in the matter, Yu,” came a strange voice Jonei didn’t recognize.

Jonei ducked down and followed the path until he peaked out from behind a bush to see the source of the commotion.

Seferet and Yu stood in the middle of the garden beside a fountain with four men surrounding them.

“I am Emperor of all China,” said Yu, “I always have a choice.”

“Yes. And right now your choice is to die,” said the leader of the attackers giving a hand signal.

“No!” exclaimed Seferet jumping in front of Yu.

“No!” screamed Jonei rushing to leap in front of Seferet forcing both him and Yu to the ground beneath his weight, “Guards! Attack!”

The arrow soaring from the top of the palace wall pierced Jonei’s back in a position that could be fatal if not tended quick enough but isn’t assured of death.

With Jonei’s yelled warning, guards started rushing to the scene and quickly, efficiently captured the four men.

“Jonei,” whispered Seferet as he rose and pulled the blond into a sitting position in front of him.

Yu sat up groggily. “Seferet? Is Jonei okay?”

“I’m sorry, master. I didn’t want you hurt,” said Jonei smiling slightly.

“Don’t speak, Jonei,” said Seferet, “We need to get you some medical attention. Don’t fuss and just let me carry you inside.”

“I’m sorry…”

“Don’t be sorry,” said Seferet rising with Jonei in his arms, “I would do the same for you.”

“You two really love each other, don’t you?” asked Yu quietly as he followed Seferet inside.

Jonei looked to Seferet lazily; already knowing the answer would be a resounding no.

“Yes, we do,” said Seferet squeezing Jonei tighter, “We do love each other.”

“I thought so,” said Yu, “You’ve spent a lot of time together. It’s only natural. Besides, I knew the moment Jonei arrived it was love between you two. You had that look in your eye, Seferet, just like now.”

“How are you feeling, Jonei?” asked Seferet.

“I’m hurt,” said Jonei, “I don’t think I’ll be able to perform my duties for awhile.”

“I don’t care about that as long as you live,” said Seferet as he carried Jonei into the room where the doctor resided, “Get well, Jonei.”

Jonei smiled at Seferet. “Count on it.”

Seferet left Jonei in the capable hands of the doctor with a quick good-bye kiss. He left with Yu once the doctor waved them away. Little was he aware that while he was distracted outside with the attackers, a few others were inside poisoning the food and drink for that night’s meal. He didn’t survive the night, and the following morning, Jonei gave up the will to live and followed after his master into death.

- - Modern Day - -

Jou fidgeted with the ring in the box once it’s placed upon the desk in front of him. He’d been so anxious to get this ring since he placed the order over a month ago, and now that he had it in his possession, he didn’t want to wear it at all. He had a better idea of what to do with it. He looked over to Seto’s desk to see the pale blue box being placed upon it by the teacher.

Seto opened the box and looked at the ring, feeling it with his fingertips before closing the box with it still inside and pocketing the ring.

“Well, now that you all have your class rings, we can all return to our classes. This meeting is over. The next class meeting will be in one month so we can start planning the spring formal,” said the teacher who acted as the main advisor to the class, “You are all dismissed.”

Everyone rose from their seats and headed out of the conference room.

Jou tucked his class ring and his box into the pocket of his uniform pants, and he hurried to catch up to Seto in the crowd. He grabbed his boyfriend by the arm and swung him around into a wall.

“What the fuck is your problem, mutt?” snarled Seto glaring at Jou.

“Puppy wants a word with you later when we can be alone,” whispered Jou close to Seto’s ear. He pulled away and punched Seto in the stomach. “Damn bastard! That was for tripping me earlier!”

“Jou! Please, don’t fight with Seto!” exclaimed Yugi making his way through the watching crowd, “I’m sure he didn’t do it intentionally!”

“Yeah, he just did it to piss me off,” said Jou leaving Seto when Yugi tugged his arm away. He followed Yugi to their next class.

“Why did you two decide to continue fighting?” whispered Yugi.

“We do it to reduce the stress in our lives and also to prevent us from having any really big fights about our relationship. If we have several small fights about the little things, we can actually sit down and talk out the big things,” said Jou in a quiet whisper, “Or at least he said it was something like that. I don’t really care. I like fighting with him. He makes it fun. But to tell you the truth, Yugi, I think he just isn’t ready for the whole world to know about our relationship. And I’m okay with that too. Everyone who’s important to me knows, so the rest of the world doesn’t need to.”

“So, let’s see your ring!” exclaimed Yugi holding up his hand to show Jou the class ring upon his right middle finger, “Mine was a little big so I guess they got the sizing wrong, but I just love it.”

“Nice ring,” said Jou looking at the crimson stone and the dueling crest to one side of it with their graduating year on the other side.

“Yeah. It has my name engraved on the inside,” said Yugi as they made their way to their seats and sat down side by side. He looked at Jou’s hands. “You’re not wearing yours.”

“Nope. I don’t want to,” said Jou digging in his pocket for the ring box, “I don’t like the idea of wearing it now as much as I did when I placed the order.” He opened the box and set it in front of Yugi.

Yugi looked at the pretty yellow-brown topaz stone that seemed to so match his best friend’s eyes. He saw the same dueling crest and name that his ring possessed. He pulled the ring out to see the name ‘Jounouchi Katsuya’ engraved on the inside. He replaced the ring. “It’s nice. I kind of thought you would get a garnet stone since it is your birthstone and all.”

“Yeah. I thought of it, but the topaz seemed to fit me more,” said Jou as he tucked the ring back into his pants.

“So what are you going to do with it since you don’t want to wear it?” asked Yugi.

Jou leaned in close and whispered, “I’m going to try to get Seto to wear it.”

Yugi smiled and whisperingly joked, “Rings already? Are you sure you’re ready to be married?”

“That’s not what I meant!”

Yugi giggled.

“What is this? Pick-on-Jou day?” asked the blond covering his face with his hands.

“Well, Pick-on-Jou day does come every other day of the year,” said Honda sitting down in front of them, “and it wasn’t yesterday, so today must be it again!”

Jou groaned and lowered his head to his desk. He didn’t see Seto come into the room and cast a concerned glance his way as he took his seat.

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

A hand reached out and grabbed Jou’s arm to drag him into the empty corridor.

“Hey!” exclaimed Jou starting to struggle against the hand holding him.

“Be quiet, puppy,” hissed Seto into Jou’s ear.

“Oh, Seto! It’s you!” exclaimed Jou wrapping his arms around his boyfriend’s neck and kissing him quickly.

“Come on. You said you wanted to talk to me alone. Let’s go up to the roof,” said Seto taking a few steps backwards to pull his clinging boyfriend with him towards the stairs.

Jou let go of his hold on Seto and took his hand instead to lead him up the stairs to the solitude of the school’s roof. He took a deep breath of the fresh air. “I guess this will do.”

“What did you want to tell me, puppy?”

Jou looked into Seto’s eyes. “It’s not what I wanted to tell you. It’s what I wanted to ask.”

“Is something wrong, Jou?” asked Seto, “I’ve made you happy, haven’t I?”

“Oh, yes! I’m happy!” exclaimed Jou, “It’s just… I know you don’t want anybody to know we’re dating right now…”

Seto raised an eyebrow. “I have not denied our relationship.”

“Oh, I know! I know! But no one’s asked you either!” exclaimed Jou, “And you know, I’m fine without everyone knowing! But I thought it would be nice too.” He pulled his ring box from his pocket and opened it. “This is my class ring.”

“It’s very nice, Jou. I think it suits you,” said Seto looking at the ring, “The stone matches your eyes.”

Jou nodded. “Yeah. What I was wondering is… would you wear it?”

“What?”

“Would you wear it as a sign of our relationship, of our bond to each other?” asked Jou quickly. He closed his eyes and waited silently for the response.

Seto smiled and pulled out his own ring box from his trench coat pocket. He removed the ring and dropped the box back into storage. He clutched the ring tightly in his hand. “I’m sorry, Jou. I can’t accept that.”

Jou gasped and opened his eyes. He blinked away the tears starting to form.

“But perhaps I can offer you something better as consolation?” Seto knelt before Jou and held out his hand, opening his fingers to show off the ring in his palm. “Jou, my precious puppy, would you accept my ring and wear it for all the world to see as a symbol of our engagement? Jou, will you agree to marry me?”

“Marry?” asked Jou sniffling and wiping his unshed tears from his eyes, “You want me to marry you?”

“Yes,” said Seto simply.

Jou smiled at the nervous way Seto tapped his foot on the ground. “I’m sorry, Seto. I can’t accept your ring unless you will agree to accept mine. I will gladly marry you and wear your ring if you will wear my ring.”

Seto pulled Jou into a heated kiss. “Then I will wear your ring!”

“I will marry you!” exclaimed Jou before quickly pulling his ring from the box and taking Seto’s left hand. He slid the ring easily up onto the ring finger before he smiled at Seto and kissed him again.

“Later though we will have to have a serious talk about this Priest of Osiris business,” said Seto sliding his ring onto the ring finger of Jou’s left hand to find it a bit loose, “It’s a bit loose, but we can have it resized to fit you.”

“Later,” said Jou slipping the ring off and sliding it onto his middle finger, “It’ll work like this for awhile. It fits perfectly.” He formed his hand into a fist with only the finger wearing the ring extended up. “What do you think?”

“A wonderful idea,” said Seto grabbing the hand and kissing the extended finger, “We’ll do that when we get home tonight.”

Jou blushed. “Now, I don’t feel like going to class just yet so… what about my becoming Priest of Osiris?”

“I don’t want you to go through the Trials,” said Seto.

“I have to or I don’t become a Priest,” said Jou looking aghast.

Seto shook his head. “No… You are not sleeping with anyone but me. I love you, Jou. You are my puppy and I don’t share.”

“Oh… so that’s why you don’t want me to do it. It’s not that you don’t want me to become a Priest. You just don’t want me to have sex with anyone but you!” exclaimed Jou smiling, “You’re possessive!”

“Yes, I am, and you agreed to be mine,” said Seto.

“What about if I speak to Osiris and try to get you to be my partner for the Trials? Would you be willing to allow it then?” asked Jou.

Seto smiled and nodded his head. “Just so long as I am the one making love to you at the end of the trials.”

“Oh, I think Osiris will permit that,” said Jou.

“Are you ready to go back to class now?” asked Seto.

“Can we skip and go home?”

“No. We have to go to class. Your friends would like to hear of our engagement.”

Jou smiled.

“And I need to think of how we’ll be announcing it to the newspapers,” said Seto, “So you can sit in class and gossip with your friends while I try to write up a press release.”

“Don’t you pay someone for that?”

“Only for Kaiba Corp. My personal life, I write up the press releases and make my P.R. specialist review them,” said Seto, “I don’t want anything but the truth coming out about us.”

“Can we skip the going to Egypt part though?” asked Jou.

“Actually, we’ll send that version off to the tabloids,” said Seto, “No one would believe it anyway!”

Jou laughed as Seto wrapped his arm around his waist and escorted him back down the stairs so they returned to their class already in progress. They walked through the door and received a quick glare from the teacher.

“Would you like to tell us all why you two are late?” asked the teacher.

“We were having sex on the roof,” said Seto walking over to his desk.

“What?” The teacher fainted.

“Seto! We were not having sex on the roof!” exclaimed Jou kneeling beside the teacher and shaking her to try to wake her.

“No, but I do remember the offer being made,” said Seto with a wink to Jou as he sat.

Jou blushed. “Yeah, and if I knew you were going to tell everybody like that, I wouldn’t have offered until we were home!”

Jou’s friends chuckled quietly as many of the other students ran from the room crying, screaming, or going to get the principal.

“Well, on second thought, puppy. Let’s skip class and go home,” said Seto standing up, “You can bring your friends. We’ll tell them the good news at the mansion.”

“Okay!” exclaimed Jou dropping the teacher and standing, “Let’s go, guys!”

All of Jou’s friends stood and grabbed their books to follow Seto and Jou out of the school and into the waiting limo for the ride to the mansion where they would soon learn and celebrate Jou and Seto’s engagement.

The end.
- 12
- 13
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I Almost Had You