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Superman and Fairies - The Bottom Line	By : lostintheheartland Category: Yu-Gi-Oh > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 3413 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh or make any profit from this story.

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
- 3
Don't own it!  Really don't, but I'm considering making an offer. Think the owners would take a shoestring and bubble gum wrapper? An old aluminum can too? Okay I woke early this morning so you get a second chapter. Actually Second and THIRD in one.  Cuz I'm random that way yanno?

******

****

Most people disliked Wednesday. Not Jounouchi Katsuya. Wednesday was one of his favorite days of the week. Sure, Friday and Saturday were fun, but Wednesday was fun in a whole different class. He didn't have to slick up and go party, didn't have to worry about remembering the name of whoever he slept with the night before, or, god forbid, deal with a hangover plus a whining sleepover. Nope, Wednesday was low maintenance, high fun and just about perfect in Jou's humble opinion.

Great company in the form of his foster-brother Honda Hiroto. Good movies, cold beer and, best of all, pizza with the works. Yeah, Wednesdays rocked. Or they usually did. This particular Wednesday Honda, his low-key, reliable, level-headed friend, was in a raging snit. All because of that stupid assignment from that morning. Worse still, Honda was actually blaming him. As if Jou was truly at fault for them getting assigned 'homosexuality' as their topic. Not just homosexuality, but that it's natural, or biological, rather than choice. It wasn't his fault and he would maintain that to his dying day. Honda should have known he was too preoccupied with the girl he was chatting up to remember something as stupid as an email. The guy had known him for over ten years! Honda knew he wasn't responsible when his little head was in control.

Geesh and to rag on and on about it like some girl on her period. It had been hours and Honda still wasn't letting up. It's not like they were gay or anything. They had their own opinions sure, but as long as they did the research and put on a good debate there shouldn't be a problem. He was sick of his brother acting like some crying girl.

Growling, he stood up from his comfortable sprawl on the futon and snapped, "Fuck man! Just shut up about it. Ya want me ta say sorry? Fine, I'm sorry." He sighed and kicked a pillow out of the way. "Just turn th' movie on will ya? I'ma go get some popcorn. I'll order a pizza later. Ya ruined m'appetite."

"Popcorn? Thought you weren't hungry?" Honda wasn't in the mood for the blonde's idiocy.

"Yeah, well I gotta have somethin' ta float on th' beer I'm gonna drink. I'll bring ya back a beer if ya promise ta stop raggin' on me."

Frustrated, but knowing he'd pushed as much as he could, Honda sighed and flopped down on the futon. "Fine, bring me a beer." When his roommate hotfooted to the kitchen, he yelled, "Butter only on the damn popcorn! Don't put no nacho cheese or other weird stuff on it."

The opening scenes to the fifties classic Rashomon were playing when Jou walked in carrying a bowl of fragrant popcorn in one hand and two beers in the other. "Aw man, that old stuff again?"

"It's one of the best movies of all time. Just hush. We'll watch that Jackie Chan movie after this." Giving the blond a sidelong glance, he smirked. "You said sorry first so I choose." And just like that their argument was done. It had been that way since they first met. First one to say sorry loses whatever the winner says - in this case: choice of movies.

Jounouchi shrugged philosophically and scooped up a handful of butter-drizzled popcorn. "Okay." He sat back into the cushion and sighed. He didn't have anything against the movie except that they had seen it enough that he knew the dialogue by heart. For some reason, Honda loved it. He'd just relax for a while. Unfortunately for him, his brain simply wasn't wired for relaxation. He began turning over the events of the day in his mind and, sure enough, the assignment crept in. Instead of getting angry, he tried to figure out why he was so angry. After almost an hour of thinking about it, he decided he needed to talk about it. "Ne, Honda, Pause the movie for a minute okay? I wanna talk to ya."

Surprised by the unexpectedly serious tone, the brunet paused the movie. "What's up?"

"Eh... why are ya so mad about the topic? I mean I'm more mad about our other team than the homosexuality thing. I don't really have a problem with it. I support you when ya mouth off ta them, but it's more ta annoy Kaiba than 'cause I got a problem with gay guys." Seeing the dumbfounded look on the other's face, Jou shook his head. "Dude, we oughtta be grateful to 'em. Think about it. If them two were straight there ain't no way we'd get laid. I mean..." He floundered for a second then barrelled on rashly, "That Otogi is so pretty he'd get any girl he wanted. And Kaiba... man, don't get me started. He's so hot, you can smell the scorched sheets from a mile away. They are both filthy rich and drive cars that are chick-magnets. We wouldn't stand a chance."

"You... you don't have a problem with fags?" It was news to Honda, but now that he thought of it he really couldn't remember the blond saying anything against them.

"Nah, ain't my business if it don't directly relate to me. Besides, I kinda understand. I mean I've looked at a guy and thought he was smokin'."

Honda was amazed. He'd never considered that Jou might have similar curiosity to his own. "So you've wanted to try a guy too?"

"Guh..." The blond did a double take. "Honda... I never said nothin' about tryin' it. Just thought a guy was hot."

Caught in his own stupid slip, he tried to retrench. "Oh uh, no not like that. I meant, trying ta... ta... see what... what..." He gave up and turned the movie back on. "This is stupid. We'll talk about it later." Yeah, like in a couple of decades when he could figure out how to erase that last stupid comment.

Jou could see the panic and shame his best friend was desperately trying to distract him from. He couldn't let that happen. This was too important. He owed his foster-brother too much to let him be hurt or upset. Decisively, he stood and turned the television off, deliberately turning off the remote control receiver. "Nah... look, okay time to be honest. I've wondered what it would be like. Sometimes, I get tired of always havin' ta be gentle and easy; never gettin' ta go balls deep. Sometimes, I just wanna go in all the way and pound someone into the mattress. I know ya think I'm some kinda sex machine, but th' truth is I only get off about once in every four or five fucks. Usually th' chick I'm with gets sore and tired before I'm done. So... Yeah, I've wondered if doin' a guy would be different. And there is one guy who... if he was ta offer, I ain't sure I'd say no.” He held out his hands, palms up to show open honesty. "Now yer turn."

Honda swallowed hard and closed his eyes tight before opening them again. "Yeah, a few times I've had dreams about guys and, more times than I can count, I've found myself watchin' and wondering. Ya know that girl last month? Th' one who wanted to stay a pussy-virgin so she wanted me to do her up the ass? I know I said I turned it down 'cause it was nasty, but th' truth is, I'm afraid I'll like ass more than pussy." He swallowed again, his Adam's apple bobbing at the convulsive movement. "I'm not like you. Sex with girls is okay, but it doesn't... consume... me like it does you. I can take it or leave it."

Feeling his way carefully, Jou asked the next obvious question. "So you wanna... uhm... up your..."

"No! That's... gross. No I just... well. You know my favorite position is cowgirl... I... a reverse cowgirl so I didn't have to see his dick while he rode mine would..."

Uncomfortable with that image because it wasn't Honda and some strange, faceless male Jou saw that way, but instead was him riding Kaiba. Oh, hell no. He liked to fuck too much to ever be someone's bitch. But... the image of Kaiba had given him an idea. "Hey, Honda. Why don't we just go talk to our closest fags?"

"What?" Honda's jaw hit the floor. 'Talk' was the way Jou always referred to getting with a girl. "Are you suggesting we... do one nighters... with Kaiba and Otogi?"

"Nah, I mean really talk. Get to know them usin' the project as research. Ask 'em some pertinent questions, maybe get some websites... not like we'd know any and I ain't searchin' either. Maybe if they are interested, do some light stuff, let them blow us or jack us off. Not go all th' way - well I mean if you want to, but th' way I see it, you're gonna go with Otogi because, well, he's your type. Obviously, he likes to take it up the ass. There ain't no way in hell, I'll take it up the ass; so, just talk is fine for me and Kaiba."

"So we talk to them? Call it an interview?" Honda thought about it for a moment and shrugged. "What if they want more?"

"So what? They know we're straight. Not like guys can force other guys. We'd just kick their asses."

"Yeah I guess that's true." Setting his misgivings aside, Honda stood up as well. "Lets go. Talking can't hurt anything."

"Yeah! I'll grab a couple six packs from the fridge and we'll head out."

"We're bringing beer?"

"College guys, right? Even if they don't want to let us in at first, they'll let us in for free beer," Jou reasoned.

“I suppose you're right," he finally agreed. Honda bit back a sigh and hoped his new friends at the gym didn't hear about this. They were more anti-gay than he was and even went so far as to ‘save’ other men from that lifestyle. He was new to the group so he wasn't familiar with their methods, but listening to them talk, they were effective enough some of their saved friends had given them expensive mementos in gratitude. Not that the value was important. The matching pair of earrings, ivory dice set with emeralds, was a symbol of one rescued man's gratitude; a diamond ring, over four karats, another symbol. Their monetary value was nothing compared to knowing they saved a man from a life of depravity.

For a moment the warning from his mother's call an hour earlier rang in his ears. "Don't listen to you're brother's crazy ideas. He's gonna get you into trouble today. I just know it. I was right this morning wasn't I? I know you won't tell me the truth, but listen to your Momma tonight. Don't listen to your crazy brother!" He was tempted to back down, but it wasn't a crazy idea. It was great and his brother was great to stick by him after his confession. Ignoring all the times his mom was right, he followed Jounouchi out into the unknown.

Across town Honda Senta eyed the perfectly baked plates of cookies and sighed. She had to go to the store. The small ping in her alarm had deepened to a resounding clang. She would need more red bean paste and flour. She needed to make mochi and some Choco Pfeffernüsse. Now that they were getting older and more independent, her sons just refused listen to their momma.

****

Otogi Ryuugi carelessly tossed his book bag on the floor next to a priceless antique table and slipped his shoes off so he wouldn't track the day's muck into the house. "Hey Seto! What's for din..." He broke off when he saw his friend’s younger brother, Mokuba, pop his head around the corner. "Hey kid. Seto in the kitchen?"

"Yeah. Has been for over an hour. Must have had a bad day at work because he's cooking like Emeril, only louder!" The black haired teen shrugged and laughed. "Making enough to feed an army. Too bad I'm going out in about five minutes. I have a study session then I'm spending the night at Yugi's."

Slight frown knitting his brows, Otogi asked, "Seto okay with that?"

"I asked and he said sure. It's not like Yugi and Atemu are strangers. They're family. Besides they live closer to the study group and my school." Mokuba gave him a questioning look. "You're home late."

"One of the guys at GDA Hotline had car troubles. I covered him until he got it fixed - four hours later."

"Oh." As was normal for young, privileged people who had never had to face the ugliness in the world, Mokuba shifted uncomfortably and avoided the topic. "Well, uhm, I'm going to grab my bag and go. I'm taking the Kei class. Let Seto know, okay?" With a fleeting smile and swish of unruly black hair, the eighteen year old was gone.

Concern for Seto made him seek out the kitchen. "Yo!" He greeted casually, but his sharp green eyes tracked over the tall form with knowing compassion. The other man's tension was obvious in the rapid, hard movements of the knife he was using with skilled savagery and the rigid way he held his body.

"Dinner in an hour." He was greeted tersely in return.

Keeping his pace a relaxed, low-key saunter, Otogi moved to sit at the table where Seto was mincing piles of vegetables with ruthless precision.

"I'd normally think something at work has you reverting to sharp objects, but I spoke to your baby brother. He's spending the night at Atemu and Yugi's place." Otogi watched the blade pick up speed. Bingo! "Let me guess. Mokuba called you at work and asked. You were busy and distracted, and you agreed before you realized what he'd said."

"Hmmph. Now you're accusing me of not paying attention to my brother's needs?"

The black ponytail flicked with annoyance when he shook his head. He knew this tactic all too well. Avoidance and diversion. He'd used it himself several times. "Nice try." He snitched a thinly sliced bell pepper and crunched it. "But it won't work. It's deliberate you know - the timing of his calls. That's how he gets away with seeing them. He knows you have an ax to grind against them, but he still sees them as family. This is his coping mechanism."

The blade was just a blur now as it moved through red peppers. "You sound like a shrink."

"I'm going to be a shrink in just a few years. And that's another avoidance technique. It won't work either." He plucked a carrot sliver from it's bowl. "Why don't you just tell him the truth? You know if you did he'd stay as far from them as he could get - like you."

The knife clattered to the table and Seto stepped back, clenching his fists. With a deep breath, he hung his head. "Tell him? Tell him the truth? Can you really see that? Tell him that I... his role model and only parent figure for years... That I was... That Atemu wasn't just our cousin, but my lover? That from the time I was thirteen until I was nineteen I was our cousin's willing bitch? That I'd still be his bitch if he hadn't dumped me for Yugi?"

Used to the virulence on this topic, Otogi raised his hand in a calming gesture. "No Seto..."

"Not that truth? Then which one? Do you mean that if you hadn't found me on the night he dumped me I would have killed myself like the selfish bitch I am because I just didn't give a fuck about Mokuba or the company?" He drew a deep breath. "Or do you mean the fact that outside of you I haven't been able to abide the touch of anyone in five years, and that if he called me this minute I'd run to him like the worthless bitch I am?" Viciously, he picked up the knife and stabbed it deep into the wooden table. It wasn't the first scar the wood bore and Otogi doubted it would be the last.

"I don't believe that Seto." The developing psychologist in him emerged. "And deep down I don't think you do either. I think you are so in the habit of thinking like that you simply haven't looked at the reality of here and now. The truth I want you to tell Mokuba is that Atemu hurt you badly, damaged your trust, and broke your heart. It hurts you when he's around Atemu." He stood and walked around the table, catching the rigid, trembling, body in a caring embrace. "Whatever else you tell him is up to you, but he has to know he's hurting you."

Seto lowered his head onto his friend's shoulder and let the warmth and comfort soothe him. "I'll think about it."

Outside the kitchen door, Kaiba Mokuba turned away from the scene. In a voice too soft to hear, he whispered, "I'm sorry big brother, but my truth would only upset you more." Shouldering his secrets, he slipped out the front door only to freeze in shock when two slightly familiar men gasped and stepped back.

"Uh, hey!" The blond mumbled. "Wow talk about timing. We... eh... we're looking for Kaiba."

Mokuba looked them over carefully. They were familiar, but he didn't know them. "You found him."

"Yeah, we know it's his house. I meant... well is Kaiba Seto or Otogi Ryugi around?"

"I'm Kaiba Mokuba - so it's our house. Otogi is our permanent guest. Is Seto expecting you?" He doubted it and his misgivings showed clearly.

"Nah, not really. We are in the same Speech Class. Got assigned opposite sides of the same topic. Thought we'd bring the beer and brainstorm together." The blond waggled the two six packs he held to show his sincerity.

Still doubtful, but willing to grasp any chance to distract his brother from his pain, Mokuba nodded and stepped back, opening the door wide. "C'mon in." Pushing the intercom next to the door, he called, "Seto, Otogi, stop fooling around in the kitchen. You guys have guests in the foyer and I'm out of here."

A significantly calmer Seto reluctantly stepped out of the comfort of his friend's arms. A small smirk crossed his lips. It wasn't much, but it lifted Ryugi's heart to see it. "Double or nothing?" The tall brunet offered.

The pony-tailed man shook his head, frowning ruefully. "No, I don't think so. You watch him too much."

Seto shrugged and removed his apron, tossing it on the table as he walked to the door. "He's safe. He... and he's eye candy."

"They both are, but..." He broke off as they entered the front hall. There wasn't any real doubt about the identity of their visitors, but he was still annoyed that Seto could predict the blond this easily. "Wow, what a shock," Otogi deadpanned to the pair standing in the hall.

Seto drew himself up and glared icily. "Why are you here?" Of course he knew. Where else would they go? Part of the project was to interview subjects and compare their interview results with the published results.

Jou grinned at them artlessly. “C’mon, ya know why we’re here. Yer not stupid. We want to talk to you about the project, maybe interview you guys. We’ll even let you interview us.” Seeing the ice didn’t fade, he held up the beer temptingly. “We brought a peace offerin’.”

The icy look became arctic, coated in disdain as blue eyes darkened. “You’re not as intelligent as I gave you credit for,” Seto derided. He had expected them to come and had the perfect set down, something guaranteed to send them both running for cover, back into the arms of their waiting sluts. “The project is Nature versus Choice. For you to be of any use to us you would have to be living a straight lifestyle by choice.”

“Well yeah. We choose to be with girls. Don’t see the problem.” Jou nodded agreeably, but he tensed slightly. He hadn’t properly thought this through. In order to get through to Kaiba and Otogi, he and Honda were going to have to expose more of themselves than they ever expected.

“The problem is the topic is Homosexuality. You would have to be gay and choosing to be straight,” he explained it with the patience of a teacher working with a particularly challenged student.

Swallowing back his defensive anger, Jou nodded. “Yeah I know. Didn’t expect ya to be so blunt about it, but...” He shrugged slightly and then shook his head. “I know th’ Kinsey Scale and I’m guessin’ you do too. I had to study it last year in psychology. I fall into level two. More than incidental and definitely curious about some things... well anyway.” He cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Honda...” He gave his friend a quick apologetic look. “Honda is a solid three. He could swing either direction. More than me and not experienced with bisexuality, but the desire is there.”

The pair watching from the doorway were treated to something only seen by a handful of people: Kaiba Seto caught completely by surprise While the genius tried to unscramble his brains from the sudden influx of possibilities and images, Otogi stepped forward aggressively. “You really expect us to believe that?” Gathering steam he spat, “After everything you’ve said and done, you really expect us to believe that load of shit? You know the words, but you can get that from the internet. There is no way you’ll convince me...”

Honda held up his hand, palms out. “Peace man. We haven’t done all that much if you think about it. You moved in here over two years ago and we haven’t really done more than say a few words. We maybe weren’t friendly, but we weren’t hostile either. If you think about it, considering we’ve both been fighting this stuff, we’ve been really easy going.”

Seto, his brain finally under control, stepped up. “That means you are more tolerant - and curious - than you’ve ever let on, or you are lying and are secure in your heterosexuality and feel only marginal disgust for homosexuality.”

Jou sighed and nodded. “Okay I can see you don’t believe us, and ta be honest I don’t blame ya. Why don’t we come inside and share a few beers. We’ll let ya ask anything you want. We only got the assignment today so we haven’t had a chance to rehearse nothin’. You guys are smart enough to catch us out if we’re lyin’.”

Seto exchanged a long look with his friend. A quick flick of the black pony tail and the narrowing of jade eyes gave him his answer. “Have you eaten yet?”

“No, we normally order pizza on Wednesday night. But we got started talking and forgot,” Honda explained quietly.

“Good, then you may join us. We’re dining late tonight ourselves. We’ll eat in the kitchen.” After a challenging stare Seto turned on his heel and led the way.

Ignoring the interlopers, Ryugi observed caustically, "Should have bet you double or nothing."

Seto gave him a sidelong smirk as he picked up his apron and tied it neatly behind his back. "If you're going to cry over spilt milk make yourself useful. Pour the champagne. The oysters are on ice in the refrigerator." He gestured for the two guests to sit. "Take the beer and put it in there too."

"Uh, really we don't want to intrude." Jou started to demur. "We..."

"If you're worried about taking our dinner, don't be." Seto guessed accurately. "I made enough for everyone."

Otogi gave them a half smirk over his shoulder as he pulled out two large trays filled with dozens of kumamoto oysters, half-shelled and nestled in ice. "He was expecting you." Shoving one tray back, he gestured and ordered, "Put the beer on the second shelf and get the other tray. I'll set the table and get the champers."

Jounouchi gave the pony-tailed man a suspicious look, but it was Honda who asked, "Expected us?"

Seto gave him a cold look. "It wasn't hard to figure out that you would be knocking on our door. You two aren't the type to have homosexual friends, so really who else would you turn to for your interviews?"

Honda nodded, but his wariness increased. There was something off, something too pat about that answer. "But why tonight?" He persisted.

"I've never seen either of you home on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday evening. That only left tonight." Unperturbed, he pulled his fine mesh strainer from the cabinet and started to strain the fresh home-made dashi. "And he," Seto inclined his head towards the blond currently drooling over the mollusks. "Doesn't have the patience to wait for Monday or class on Wednesday."

"And our coming over was worth celebrating with oysters and champagne?" Honda's background as a cop's son and gang member was showing clearly.

"Hardly a celebration. We eat oysters at least once a week, and champagne is the only thing to drink with them." The tall brunet began whisking the dashi with his other batter ingredients. "The rest of our meal is nowhere near as celebratory. Just okonomiyaki." Satisfied with the integration, he lit the gas burner under his teppan. "Green peppers, mushrooms, red peppers, cabbage, onion, bean sprouts, carrots, snow peas, water chestnuts, pork, or shrimp and bacon to top it. Just tell me which you want."

Distracted, Jou left the mouth watering feast of oysters and wandered into the cooking area. "Nice. This looks like a professional setup." Ignoring good manners, he wandered around the cabinets and counters, peering into various pots and pans. "And you make fresh dashi, not from a bottle or powder. Didn't think anyone, but Higa's over on the north end did that any more." He grinned reminiscently. "That place saved our lives in high school. Our mother went on a vegetarian kick that lasted almost three years."

Otogi caught the tail end of the comment. "Your mother? You two are brothers?" Which answered the question of their relationship, but opened several others.

"Yep." Jounouchi nodded, but his look was defiant. "The Honda's took me in when I was thirteen. I wanted ta change m'name, but my birth parents wouldn't let me. Threw me in the street like an unwanted dog, but wouldn't let me take a decent name."

"Fascinating." Seto cut in before he could expound further. He didn't want to feel sympathy for the blond, didn't want to know him on any kind of personal level. "What do you want in your food?"

He was slightly discomfited when the blond gave him an understanding look, as if somehow the other man knew why he'd cut him off, as if he actually sympathized. "Same as usual for you, Otogi?" He turned his attention to his friend.

"Hmmm, I wonder if a change might be good Seto. I'll have the pork instead of shrimp. Leave the rest the same."

Honda quirked an eyebrow. That seemed very strange, but he was too uncomfortable to ask. "Uhm... Kaiba, I'll have cabbage, carrots, peppers, snow peas, and pork please."

Seto gave Otogi a smile. "Two peas in a pod." He quipped and doubled the batch he was mixing. "Jounouchi...?" He asked as he set aside the bowl full of mix for Honda and Otogi and picked up a larger bowl, tossing in handfuls of ingredients.

"I dunno, I like it all so I..."

Seto couldn't help, but laugh. He'd thought as much because it was the complete opposite of how he ate his own. Light amounts of cabbage, shrimp and onion were all he cared for. "You are predictable." He showed him the large bowl then set it aside to prepare his own mixture.

"I keep hearin' that. Predictable. Why do you keep sayin'..."

"I have to cook. Go sit and eat some oysters. If you must be in here with me, bring a tray over and some champagne. I'm hungry."

Tempted to go pig out, but knowing he wouldn't because of the manners drilled into him by his adoptive mom, Jounouchi snagged one of the two bottles of champagne and tucked it under his arm then picked up a tray of the oysters. "Fine, we'll share in here. You guys scrunch together and share." He gave Honda a meaningful look that had the muscular brunet sliding next to Otogi rather than at the opposite end of the table.

"Corkscrew is on the counter next to the oyster knife. Don't let it overflow the bottle. Not only is it a waste of good champagne, but it's a sticky mess to clean up."

Otogi grinned and left the table to take the corkscrew from the hapless blond. "I'll do it. God knows you don't want to make a sticky mess in anything of Kaiba's." The grin took on a sexual edge. "I make messes all the time... Seto doesn't mind as long as I clean them up."

Seto didn't look up from where he was wielding his two spatulas as he rebuked, "That's enough Ryugi."

Stubborn and feeling threatened, the black-haired man asked innocently, "You mind if I make messes?"
"I mind when you give people the impression we are a couple," Seto responded gently. "And you know it." He looked up from his mixing of the sizzling mounds. "Otogi is my best friend and I'd do anything for him, much the way either of you would for each other, but we are not involved romantically." He hesitated a moment then added, "I'm single and not dating, and Ryugi is playing the field." Satisfied with the doneness of the vegetables, he scooped in the meat he'd had frying above it. After mixing each portion in thoroughly he hollowed each out and poured the batter into the nest created. "There! Time to eat." Eagerly, he scooped an oyster from the ice and slurped it down, chasing it with a sip of the glass of champagne Otogi had left for him on the counter.

Jou, who until that point had only looked not eaten, picked one up as well and, following his host's example, slurped it down. He couldn't stop his exclamation of pleasure. "Yhmmm! You put sake and somethin' else... what?... on these?"

"Yes. Sake with minced daikon. Strain the sake into a small shaker and shake on top. Just a small amount."

"Delicious," Honda seconded.

"Y'know what Kaiba?" At the lifted brow and questioning look, Jou grinned at him good-naturedly. "No offense, and got nothin' ta do with yer bein' gay, but you'd make one hell of a good wife."

The blue eyes studied him carefully for a moment then turned to the cooking dinner. "No offense taken - I happen to agree - I'd be a fantastic homemaker." He waited for a moment then added, "I'm the best at everything I do."

His best friend challenged that as Seto knew he would. "Modesty, humbleness, humility..." For the first time ever, Honda saw Otogi's face light with a teasing smile. It made his breath catch and his heart turn over in his chest.

Seto sucked down another oyster and sipped more champagne. "I stand corrected. I'm the best at everything worthwhile. I see nothing of value in underrating myself." The slender brunet amended in a tone much too superior to be real. There was a moment of dead silence in the room then Jounouchi's snickers broke free. Soon everyone, including Kaiba Seto, were laughing and trading more and more outrageous remarks.

Dinner passed in a haze of champagne and surprising laughter. Neither Honda nor Jounouchi realized they were being played expertly and subtly interrogated at the same time. That they consumed most of the champagne also flew right past their heads. They weren't drunk, but they were happily tipsy.

When dinner was over and the dishes piled haphazardly in the sink - Kaiba did have servants after all. He might cook, but cleaning? Get real. After scant clean up they gravitated towards the entertainment room. "Jounouchi, Honda, the movie library is along that wall. You guys pick out a couple movies. I'm going to leave a message for the housekeeper. I want to have shabu-shabu tomorrow and I don't see all the ingredients. Otogi come get the beer from the fridge; our guests still look thirsty."

"Hey sure thing, Kaiba. Man you got more movies than Netflix," Jou remarked as he ambled down the long row of choices.

"More than Blockbuster, too," Seto agreed as he and Otogi went back to the kitchen. When they were back in the kitchen, he gave his friend a small look. "Well?"

"They were nervous at first, like they expected us to jump them. I couldn't tell if they were serious or not. Now I'm sure they are not lying. At least not about their interest. The Kinsey Scale. I believe that Honda may actually be four not three. Something about his responses strikes me as more closeted than bi. Jounouchi... that's harder to say. When dealing with me, he's easy going, comfortable, and not threatened in the least, although he's also not interested. Given his preference for petite women and my physical appearance, I'd be the obvious choice for his attraction, but..." Otogi Honda hesitated. "He stays close to you, follows you, and makes eye contact most with you. A few times he made comments that, had you been a girl, would have constituted flirtatious."

"Shrink-in-training. Thanks Ryugi, those were my impressions exactly." His lips twisted ruefully. "He doesn't know. Lucky me. A closet case is infatuated with me."

Otogi shook his head. "Sure he does," he contradicted. "He's been around enough to recognize his feelings. He may not acknowledge them, but he knows they exist." Otogi tilted his head. "I'd say he's more uncertain of your feelings... you don't give much away."

Seto turned away, ostensibly to write a note to the housekeeper. "There's nothing to give away."

"Nothing? Really?" Otogi sighed and shook back his pony-tail. Seto was doing too much avoidance. "You bought this house only after seeing him. If I remember correctly, you were set on another as this one was overpriced and didn't have the amenities you wanted. You insisted on choosing your room first. Which room did you choose? The one that looks directly into his room. I've never caught you looking, and I'd bet he hasn't either because you had privacy glass installed. But I know you've watched him. You know him so well you know how long he takes to fuck. Please Seto, give me a break. Give yourself a break. You like him - or at least you are interested."

"It doesn't matter. He is a curiosity and eye candy. That's all."

"Seto..." Otogi Honda gripped his arm. "I love you and I want you to get past what that ass did to you. Give it... Give him a chance. Show him a little interest and see what happens. Please?"

"What about you then? What about what you need?"

"Let me worry about my own needs. Take care of yourself." Otogi smiled. "If it will help, I'll confess to some interest in Honda. I'm still not... I'm still... but I think I could like him. He has kind, gentle eyes."

"This is the guy you called a homophobic ass eight hours ago, Ryugi," Seto reminded.

"And now I'm changing that. He's showing us past his mask. They both are. They deserve respect and honesty for that." Giving the normally aloof brunet a pointed look, he stressed, "From both of us.

Seto nodded slightly as he conceded the point. "Fine. Don't forget the beer and hurry up with your primping - I know you're dying to refresh your eyeliner and mascara. I want to watch the headlines before we get into the movies."

Jounouchi was waiting for him with a teasing comment as soon as he stepped into the room. "Who's the anime otaku?"

"Hnnn... that would be... me," Seto confessed with a small grimace. "I love Mecha's."

"Me too." Jou lit up with a smile.

Taking a small chance, Seto jostled his shoulder as he passed. "You'll have to come over some time. We'll have a Tengen Toppen Gurren Lagann marathon."

"You got the whole thing? Even the 'lost' episodes?" The blonde's eyes were shining gold with excitement.

"The whole thing, including the four lost episodes."

"Four?" Jou's normally husky voice squawked. "I only heard about two, and they are supposed to be super rare. Internet legend only." He breathed out almost reverently, "How...?"

Otogi chuckled from the doorway. "Seto tell him before he turns blue from forgetting to inhale."

"Their producing company is an arm of KC Entertainment," the brunet CEO explained reluctantly.

"And... ?"

That made Seto blink. "Are you serious?"

"Eh... yeah? What about it?"

Otogi laughed. "Well at least we know they aren't gold diggers." He swept his arm out dramatically and bowed low. "Jounouchi Katsuya, meet Kaiba Seto - the CEO and owner of fifty-one percent of KC also known as Kaiba Corporation." The slim, black-haired man straightened and shook back his hair. Primly, he instructed, "Call him Kaiba-souchou or Kaiba-sama."

"Ah man yer not just a rich boy are ya? Yer a total moneybags and a freaking CEO." Jou's whole being deflated. For some reason it cheered Seto immensely.

"Don't let it concern you Jounouchi." Seto took another chance and gave the blonde's arm a warm squeeze. "I rarely fire friends." He didn't have enough to fire them. He could count them on one hand with fingers to spare. Seeing that did nothing to perk the blond back up, but he hadn't removed his hand either. Seto tried again. "I'm still the same homosexual jerk you came to see. Nothing's changed."

For a second Jounouchi's expression remained gloomy. "Yeah, yeah it has." Then a small grin teased his lips. "Ya ain't such a jerk. Ya like Mecha's. If I'da known dat..." Then a heartfelt, "And I'm good with ya bein' gay."

His smile was returned. "Yes, I think I can tell." Seto's blue eyes locked with Jounouchi's melted caramel gaze. "I'm glad." Eyes still meeting they stood transfixed, both captured by what they saw in the other's expression.

Honda, quiet until now, coughed lightly. "Movies?" He reminded the room at large. He wasn't sure why, but he knew absolutely that something very fundamental had changed for his best friend in the last few minutes. It made him uneasy. Maybe coming here was a bad idea.

Otogi gave him a particularly sweet smile. "Not yet. Seto wants to watch the news first. He needs to make sure there are no current stories effecting his company or it's suppliers and competitors." Holding out one of the six packs, he offered, "Have a beer while I turn on the television."

"No need. I've got it." Seto picked up the remote control and pushed the buttons with practiced ease. "The news started about twenty minutes ago, but I record it so this won't take long. I'll skip commercials and fluff pieces."

True to his word he skimmed through, watching only what he felt was pertinent of world news then, when it got to local news, he slowed the playback to normal. The lead story was horrifying. The bodies of two men missing since the previous Friday were found in a warehouse owned by the Korasu group just outside city limits, near the edge of the river. The cause of the deaths had not been released, but the police were treating them as homicides. The two men were last seen leaving a bar called Ni-Chome after having drinks together. They were not seen again until their bodies were discovered by a security patrol. The officer said that the building is kept locked and they normally do not go inside, but he smelled something dead and thought a cat or dog had gotten into the vents. He entered, thinking to clean out the dead animal, and found the bodies.

Jounouchi snapped out of his warm fuzzy place in a hurry, sobering almost instantly. "Shit! I have to go." With a grimace, he gave Seto an apologetic look. "I work for CSCI - Crime Scene Cleaners Incorporated. I'm on call tonight. I'm surprised I haven't been contacted..." As he spoke, his cell phone began to ring. "Yeah, right on time. Thanks for the great food and good times. See you later."

At their surprised looks, the blond added, “Take a rain check on the movie invitation and we can pick up the interview sometime after I’m finished at work. I ain’t got no idea how long it’s gonna take. Looks messy, but you never can tell." He rolled his eyes at Seto's raised eyebrows. "Don't gimme that look. I ain’t got a cushy desk job like some people do.” He grimaced slightly and jostled the taller man's shoulder slightly to show he was only kidding.

"Do you need a ride? I have several vehicles..."

"Nah, bein' on call means I have one of the company vans. But thanks." With a quick wave, the blond dashed away. Seto didn't get a chance to enjoy the view of a retreating Jou. A low coo, like that of a wounded dove brought his gaze around sharply to his friend. Belatedly he took in the implications of the broadcast. Shit! This was horrible.

Otogi was milk white and visibly trembling, with his hands cupped over his ears as if he didn't want to hear the broadcast any longer. From the corner of his eye, Seto saw Honda move as if to go to Otogi. Seto knew that contact from the other man was the last thing his friend wanted or needed. Using his long legs to their best advantage, he ran to Otogi and took him into his arms, offering what comfort and security he could. Eyes diamond hard, he glared at Honda. "The dead men were friends of ours. Ni-Chome is a gay bar. You need to leave now. We are both extremely upset."

Honda blinked, but didn't back down. A small voice inside of him was saying that he should be the one holding Otogi, not Seto. It made him step forward again. "I want to help him too. He needs... he looks like he could use all the help he can get."

Otogi shook violently, his shoulders heaving as he gripped his ears tighter and burrowed into the sturdy warmth of Seto's strong body "Go..." He choked out. "Just get out. Your kind of hate did this... get out..." Tears and hysteria rode the edge of a voice spiralling out of control. "Get out!" The black-haired man screamed.

Honda bit back more protests and, without a word, spun away, running out the door before that stupid voice deep inside could cause more damage.

Across town, Honda Senta dropped the spoon she was using to carefully stir the chocolate melting in the double-boiler. The jangling of her mother's alarm became deafening. Without hesitation, she picked up the kitchen extension and dialed her husband's number. Her boys didn't listen to her, but they just might listen to their father. "Ito..." She husked into the phone, her accented voice thick and wavering. "I need you..."

*****
Shout OUTS:  Glomps Too my THREE fantastic reviewers!

Dragonlady222 - They seemed that way, but in this case it's more of a 'protesting too much'
Mulle: Oh it's something all right. A mess. ROFL.  Crack-y? Not quite but... well as close as I'll ever get.  LOL Hey did you ever read What He Needs? Definitely skating the edge of bizarre. I'll post it for you if you like.  I think you will like it. Suki is adorably loveable.

AtomBUNNY!: (Squees and jumps around hugging the bunny tight) For you I will write the epilogue. (Well yours was the 10th vote for it). Wanna kibitz or wanna be surprised? Let me know though 'cuz I'll have to send you the link for the document.  :) Have you ever worked on one of the shared documents for kibitzing? Tis fun because of real time writing AND real time edits, plus chats.
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