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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
- 5
- 6
- 7
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. Story elements © Hideki LaShae. No money was gained in the writing of this story.

I Almost Had You
By
Hideki LaShae

Chapter Six
He Kissed Me in a Way That I've Never Been Kissed Before

- - 3000 years ago - -

“Well… this clothing is certainly… um… grander than what I had been wearing,” said Jou, “but it’s still a dress.”

“It is not a dress,” said Mai with a sigh. She smiled. “Just put it on, cousin!”

Jou blushed. “You… outside!”

Mai laughed. “You are just like Jono!”

“Out.”

Mai headed out the door to wait until Jou dressed properly.

Jou slipped on the clothing, very similar in style to what he wore before, but this time the soft ecru colored fabric had red trim along the bottom hem-line, and he added a waist-length cape made of sapphire blue fabric with a wide border of ruby red around its three edges. He placed the golden jewelry upon his neck, noticing how it traveled down his shoulders to cover the top of the cape he wore and hid the small patch of bare skin on his chest. He sighed. “Okay, Mai… You can come back in.”

Mai stepped back into the room and gasped. “Jono!”

“Wrong guess,” said Jou, “but I guess it’s fairly understandable.”

“The resemblance is even greater now!” exclaimed Mai walking up to Jou. “Here, let me help you.”

“Um, sure,” said Jou.

Mai lifted the armbands and wrapped them around Jou’s upper arms before doing the same with his golden wristbands. She finally lifted the golden earrings.

“Oh, no! No! No!” exclaimed Jou backing away from Mai, “No way are you putting holes in my ears!”

“Have you never worn an adornment of this kind?” asked Mai. Her amethyst eyes glittered mischievously as she looked at Jou.

“No, and I’m not about to! I don’t care what you say!” exclaimed Jou still backing away.

“Too bad. I didn’t know you were that afraid of a little piece of gold,” said Mai turning her back to Jou.

“Hey, wait a minute!” Jou placed his hands on his hips. “Are you calling me chicken?”

“If the terminology fits,” said Mai glancing at Jou over her shoulder, “Aren’t you?”

Jou walked over to his bed and sat down. “Fine! Stick them in!”

Mai turned around and smiled. “Don’t worry! I’ll be gentle!”

Jou closed his eyes as Mai approached him.

Mai looked at both of Jou’s ears for a moment, and when she failed to see any holes in them to put the earrings in, she pinched his earlobe to numb it before forcing the post of the earring through the tender flesh. She repeated the process to the other side before looking at Jou’s face to see his eyes clenched tightly closed. She gave Jou a soft kiss upon his lips. “Open your eyes, cousin. I am done.”

Jou slowly opened one eye and peaked at Mai. “That hurt.”

“I am sorry.”

“No you’re not! You did that on purpose!” exclaimed Jou standing up so abruptly he knocked Mai onto the floor.

“You are such a big baby!” exclaimed Mai standing up and brushing her clothing off, “Jono didn’t whine nearly this much when I did that to his ears!”

“Yeah, well… he was stupid!” exclaimed Jou.

“And you’re worse!”

Jou turned his back to Mai. “You can go now.”

“Jou…”

“I don’t want to hear it. Just go.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that,” said Mai quietly, “You aren’t all that stupid. A little foolish maybe, but not really stupid.”

“Actually, I am,” said Jou, “now, you’d better go. I need to go meet up with Shizuru and Mokuto, and I’m sure there’s some task you should be doing.”

“Yes. The festival of Bastet is within the next moon cycle,” said Mai, “and I have to prepare for it.”

Jou nodded.

“Jou…”

“Yeah?” asked Jou turning to look at Mai once more.

“What do you intend to do with the herbs that the merchant gave you?” asked Mai, “Do you even know what they are?”

“I know what they are, and what they are used for,” said Jou, “I know a lot about them. I can’t identify them in their plant form because I’ve only ever seen them dried and crushed, but I can identify them in that form by scent. I have to ask you something, Mai, although you may not know the answer.”

“I will answer it if I can,” said Mai sitting down on the edge of Jou’s bed.

Jou sat down beside Mai. “The merchant said the love herbs within the box were intended to help Jono confess his feelings to the man he loved and to help that man to also admit what he feels. Who was the man that Jono loved?”

“Jono never spoke his name to anyone,” said Mai, “but if you had seen the way he looked at Seth…”

“Seth?”

“Yes, Seth… then you would know that Jono loved him very much,” said Mai, “Seth and Jono were in love with each other, but neither had ever the courage to admit that love to the other. It was their one disgrace.”

“I see… So if Seth were to show a romantic interest in me now?”

Mai’s eyes widened.

“He hasn’t! He hasn’t!” exclaimed Jou too quickly.

“Oh… If he did, I would accuse him of trying to find Jono in you, of only caring for you because he loved Jono so much,” said Mai.

“Oh, yeah… That’s what I thought,” said Jou. He stood up and walked out of the room with a sullen expression plastered on his face.

“Is something wrong, Jou?” asked Isis walking out of Seto’s room and seeing him.

Jou quickly turned his frown into a smile. “Nothing, Isis. I was just talking to Mai. It was nothing, really…”

“Why do I not believe you, puppy?” asked Seto stepping out behind Isis.

Jou blushed as he looked up and down Seto’s body at his new change of clothes.

Seto wore an ecru colored garment much like Jou’s but the accents on the hemline were made of a rich crimson red. The jewelry he wore was the same as Jou’s as well with the exception that he only had one earring in, on his right ear. However, instead of the cape like Jou wore, he wore a floor-length, sleeveless robe that remained open to reveal the clothing beneath. This burgundy robe, with a crimson border all the way around the hem and the front opening, resembled his white trench coat as much as would be possible for something in this day and age. He even wore the exact same type of sandals as Jou.

“You look very nice,” whispered Jou blushing even brighter red.

Seto’s cheeks reddened slightly as he looked at Jou’s clothing.

Isis slipped past the two boys and met Mai as she came out of Jou’s room. She whispered, “Let’s leave the two love stricken fools alone.”

“So do you,” said Seto finally. Even though he faced in their direction, he didn’t see the two women slip silently down the hall. He reached his hand out to touch the red cape lightly. “Red looked good on you.”

“Thank you,” said Jou, “I was afraid I’d look a little too much like Seth in this.”

“Impossible. For many reasons,” said Seto wrapping his arm lightly around Jou’s waist and guiding him down the hallways, “One. You have blond hair and you would never look like Seth. Two. Seth’s cape is blue. Three. I’m the one who looked too much like Seth. That’s why they gave me this instead of a cape.” He lightly tugged on the robe with his free hand.

“I guess so. If you were in my outfit, you would look just like Seth. Then how would I tell you two bastards apart?” Jou smiled happily.

Seto chuckled. “I don’t know. I’d have the same problem if Jono was still around.”

“Two of me and two of you? Man! That would be a nightmare!” exclaimed Jou chuckling.

“I’m glad you said that and not me,” said Seto, “You’d probably get very pissed at me for saying it even though it would be true.”

“Yeah, I think I would have been,” said Jou squirming a bit so Seto’s hand slid from his waist down to his hip.

Seto swallowed hard when he realized where his hand now lay, but he didn’t move it and instead waited to see what Jou’s reaction would be.

“So where are you off to?” asked Jou, “I’m going to see Mokuto and Shizuru.”

“I actually don’t have a location in mind,” said Seto, “Atemu wanted to meet with me later, but I’m a bit too early for that. I could walk you down to see the kids… if you don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind. They like you,” said Jou, “Seth arranged for Shizuru’s Priestess training to take place in the evenings, so I get to spend some quality time with her and Mokuto before that.”

“Shizuru is going to be the next Priestess of Osiris, but what are Mokuto’s plans for the future?” asked Seto as they neared the room where the two children should be finishing up their studies.

“I asked him that and he said he’s undergoing the training to be a Priest of Ra, just like his older brother, but since his older brother is still alive, he doesn’t have to train as hard as Shizuru. And since Seth is High Priest, there is another lesser Priest of Ra who is currently training Mokuto.”

“You seem to know a lot about this.”

Jou’s blush flared up so suddenly and so bright his face looked very much like the cape he wore.

Seto chuckled. “Mokuto must be quite the chatterbox.”

“Yeah…” Jou looked away from Seto.

Seto stopped outside the door and gripped Jou’s hip to force him to stop as well. He turned to look at Jou and he tilted Jou’s chin towards him so their eyes met. “You never did tell me…”

“Tell you what?” asked Jou as Seto stepped closer to him.

“How you knew those herbs the merchant gave you were love herbs?” whispered Seto moving even closer.

‘Oh… Gods! Is he going to kiss me? He can’t! Seto can’t possibly mean to kiss me! Can he?’ thought Jou.

“So how do you know what a love herb is? And do you know how to use them?” asked Seto quietly.

“I… I… I was interested… in herbs… after I read a book,” lied Jou turning his eyes away, but Seto’s hand on his chin prevented him from turning his head, “It’s become a hobby for me… dabbling in stupid things like that!”

“You’re lying, puppy,” whispered Seto leaning in closer.

Jou clenched his eyes closed, waiting for their lips to meet.

Seto moved away from Jou in a second and opened the door. “Come on, mutt. Let’s go see Mokuto and Shizuru.”

Jou opened his eyes and followed Seto into the room. He smiled when he saw Mokuto and Shizuru sitting on the floor together with a game placed between them. “Hey, Mokie, Shizu! How are you two doing today?”

“Jou!” exclaimed Mokuto cheerfully.

All the color drained from Shizuru’s face as she looked at Jou. She stood up and glared at the clothing. “What in the name of Osiris are you wearing?”

“Um… clothing,” mumbled Jou.

“How… how… How dare you!” screamed Shizuru.

Mokuto swallowed hard as he backed away from Shizuru and moved over to Seto, grabbing his brother’s look alike and dragging him away from the almost siblings. “I don’t like the looked of this, Seth.”

“Shizu? What’s wrong?” asked Jou slowly.

“How dare you! First you taunt me by looking like my dead brother! And now… Now you dare to dress in his clothing! His colors!” shouted Shizuru, “If I didn’t know he was dead, I would swear that you are he, come back to haunt me!” She fell to her knees and burst into tears.

Within the time span of a single blink of an eye, Jou held Shizuru within his lap as she cried on his shoulder. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. Mai brought these clothes to me. I didn’t know they belonged to Jono, or that they were in the colors he wore. If I had, I would have never accepted them. I’m sorry, Shizu. I’m so sorry!”

Shizuru sobbed into Jou’s shoulder. “I miss him so much, Jou! I miss him so much!”

“It’s okay, Shizu… I know you miss him,” said Jou, “I know it hurts… I know how it feels to lose someone you love. It’ll be okay though. I just know it will.”

“Why did he have to go?” asked Shizuru quietly as her sobs slowed down.

“I don’t know.”

Shizuru hiccupped.

“Well, now you see. That’s what happens when you cry incessantly,” said Jou, “but don’t worry, I know the cure for that!”

“Can’t you just… hiccup… get Namu down here… hiccup… to help me?” asked Shizuru.

“Nope. I don’t know where Namu is!” exclaimed Jou smiling, “Don’t worry! It’s not that bad!”

“What is it?” asked Mokuto.

“Do you want to come help me, Mokie?” asked Jou, “Seto, could you stay here with Shizu?”

“Yes,” say Seto and Mokuto together.

Jou grabbed Mokuto’s hand and pulled him from the room.

“So where are we going?” asked Mokuto.

“To Namu’s room,” said Jou, “I need to get some herbs from there.”

“I thought you didn’t know where Namu was…”

“Have you and Shizu heard? About Namu?”

“No…”

“He’s been kidnapped,” said Jou, “No one knows where he is.” He opened the door to Namu’s room and pulled Mokuto inside.

“What?” asked Mokuto.

Jou started to look through the jars of herbs lining one wall of Namu’s room, sniffing each one carefully after looking at it thoroughly to try to identify it. “Namu’s been kidnapped.”

“Oh, no!” exclaimed Mokuto sitting down on Namu’s bed.

“Don’t worry! Hiroto is trying to find him!” exclaimed Jou, “He’ll be back with us soon!”

Mokuto nodded.

“Mokie? I need you to do something for me,” said Jou, “Next time you’re with Seth, I want you to find out what he wants with me. Mai thinks he only wants me to fill the void in his life left there when Jono died.”

“Has Seth been propositioning you?” asked Mokuto.

“In a manner of speaking,” said Jou, “but you can’t tell anyone that!”

“I won’t. What’s he done? Try to rip off all your clothes and shove you into his bed?” asked Mokuto with an evil grin.

“No… He’s kissed me,” said Jou, “Just kissed me.” He sniffed the dried herbs in a small jar. “Yes! Found it!”

“Okay… Now what?” asked Mokuto.

Jou turned towards a jug of water and a cup placed by the bed for drinking during the night. He placed a small pinch of the herbs into the bottom of the cup before pouring some water on top of it. He put the lid back on the jar and replaced it in its spot on the wall. He swirled the cup to stir the liquid within. “Now we get Shizu to drink this.”

“Okay!” exclaimed Mokuto jumping up.

Jou and Mokuto headed back towards the room where they left Shizuru with the cup of herbal water held firmly in Jou’s hand.

Seto held Shizuru in his arms as the two boys returned.

Shizuru’s hiccups came frequent and forcefully.

“Okay, Shizu, you need to drink this slowly,” said Jou kneeling in front of her. He held the cup and helped Shizuru to drink tiny sips in between her hiccups.

Once Shizuru drank the entire herbal water, Jou pulled her from Seto’s arms into his own, and he whispered a few quiet words in a language ancient even in this time.

Shizuru hiccupped once more before settling herself against Jou’s chest. “How did you know about that? And how do you know that language?”

“Hush,” said Jou, “You need to relax now or you’ll get them back.”

Shizuru’s eyes closed, and she fell rapidly to sleep.

Jou smiled. “She’ll be fine now. She’s just sleeping. Funny how that water always has the same effect on Shizuka too even though no one else ever falls asleep because of it. They must be the same person, but I wonder why the herb makes them sleepy.”

“What herb was it?” asked Mokuto.

“Oh, nothing too special!” exclaimed Jou blushing slightly. He forced a yawn. “You know, a nap sounds like a good idea!”

Mokuto and Seto shared a glance as Jou shifted his position so he and Shizuru lay down on the floor.

Jou cuddled with Shizuru as he fell asleep.

“Would you like to play?” asked Mokuto motioning to the game still on the floor.

“I don’t know this game,” said Seto, “Would you teach me?”

Mokuto smiled. “Sure!”

Mokuto and Seto sat down across from each other and the teaching game began.

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

Namu struggled against the ropes binding him.

“If you keep trying to escape, I will have to strip you down to your flesh and then tie you up. I highly doubt anyone would help you if you managed to escape like that.”

Namu turned his eyes to the dark corner where the voice came from, and he stilled his movements. He spoke clearly, and his voice showed no signs of the fear racing through his heart at this very second. “Who are you?”

“Who do you think I am?” Bakura stepped out of the shadows and looked at Namu with a feral smirk.

Namu turned his eyes away from Bakura’s face. He didn’t understand why, but something compelled him to stare into those evil brown eyes, and that feeling scared him even more than being stuck here with a murderer and madman. “What do you want with me?”

“You are a healer, are you not?” replied Bakura, “And do not lie to me!”

“Yes, I am.”

Bakura smirked. “I think I’ll keep you!”

Namu gasped and looked up at Bakura. “What? What do you mean? Please! Let me go!”

Bakura knelt down in front of Namu and reached out towards the innocent face. “Why do you want to leave me? What do you have waiting for you that could be more important than staying here with me and caring for people who actually need your assistance?”

Namu clenched his eyes closed and pressed his head back against the wall behind him, but when he didn’t feel the hand touch him, he slowly opened his eyes.

“Why do you fear me? I have not harmed you,” whispered Bakura.

“You kidnapped me,” whispered Namu, “and you have given me no reason to trust you. As far as I know, you want to keep me here to rape me. But I warn you that if you do, you might as well kill me because I will be no good as a healer after that! It’s a well-known fact a healer has to be pure of body to be able to control the healing powers given to them by the Gods!”

“So you are a virgin?” asked Bakura.

“I have to be!” exclaimed Namu confidently.

Bakura’s lips turned into a smile.

Namu looked away from Bakura. “Why did you kidnap me?”

“Truthfully, I didn’t know who you were until after I grabbed you. I chose you simply because you were the easiest one to grab while my… dummy… distracted the Priests,” said Bakura, “But now that I have you here, healer, I will use you to my advantage. Tell me your name!”

“My name is Namu. Namu of the House of Isis… I am the youngest of my family,” said the boy turning his gentle amethyst eyes to Bakura slowly, “My older sister is the Priestess of Isis, and my older brother is the Guardian of the Temple of Isis.”

“My name is Bakura.”

“That’s a lie! You are Dorobo Bakudan!”

“That’s a lie. My name is Bakura. Only my friends know that. Dorobo Bakudan is the name of a ghost whose identity I have borrowed to strike fear into the hearts of those who defy me,” said Bakura, “I’m really not as bad as everyone makes me out to be.”

“If that was true, then you would untie me,” said Namu.

“Remember what I said if you try to escape,” said Bakura pulling out a knife and slicing the ropes to free Namu.

Namu rubbed his wrists where the ropes dug into his skin. “Thank you.”

“I will return your medicines to you if you will do something for me,” said Bakura.

“What do you want me to do, Bakura?” asked Namu.

Bakura knelt before Namu and pulled his top down past his shoulders to reveal his chest to the blond before him.

Namu blushed bright red as he thought Bakura wanted to take him. His eyes widened when he saw the large knife gash across Bakura’s stomach. “Where did you get that?”

“That was from breakfast,” said Bakura, “Can you heal it?”

Namu shifted his position so he knelt right in front of Bakura with their knees touching each other’s. “I can.”

Bakura spread his knees apart. He blinked in confusion as Namu slid in between his opened legs to get as close as he could.

Namu’s fingers gently ran across the cut, and a soft lavender light started to thrum from his fingertips. He cupped the hand against the cut and the light surrounded his entire hand and seeped into the wounded flesh beneath. His eyes closed and he shivered, but his hand remained where it was.

Bakura wrapped his arms around Namu to try to warm the healer’s chilling body.

Namu gasped as he suddenly removed his hand from Bakura’s side and opened his eyes. His lips held a faint blue tinge, and he shivered uncontrollably. “Your wound… so deep… I shouldn’t have healed it on my own… That’s what I have potions and ointments for, to do most of the work for me so I don’t hurt myself…”

Bakura pulled Namu up tight against him and rubbed the boy to add friction to try to warm him.

“So cold… so cold…”

Bakura pushed Namu away from himself and stood up while pulling his clothing back into order. He turned and headed out of the cell even as Namu curled up into a ball and shook from the cold seeping through his body.

“S-s-s-some th-th-th-thanks th-that is,” mumbled Namu.

After just a few moments, Bakura returned to the cell carrying several items that he set on the floor. He spread a blanket on the floor and helped Namu onto it before he grabbed a second blanket to wrap around Namu and make him look much like a mummy. Then he grabbed the bowl from the floor and settled himself behind Namu to hold him against his chest. “Drink this. It will warm you up.”

Namu opened his mouth and allowed Bakura to pour the steaming hot liquid into his mouth. He felt the broth warming him up from the very center of his core, and he leaned back against Bakura to continue to drink from the bowl in Bakura’s hand. “Mmm… this is good.”

“I would hope so! This is from an old family recipe!” exclaimed Bakura beaming in pride, “Although whose family I don’t know!”

Namu giggled as Bakura tilted the bowl to give him more. He drank every last drop from the bowl before he rested his head on Bakura’s shoulder and closed his eyes, now feeling much warmer and unusually enough, much safer. “Thank you, Bakura.”

Bakura wrapped his arms around Namu after setting the bowl down. He held the blond healer as he fell asleep. Then he gently moved him to lie completely on the blanket on the floor before he headed out of the cell alone to go about his business.

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

Seth pulled Jou against him as he backed against a wall. His lips quickly found their way to the blond’s, and he kissed him with all the passion and lust he held for his love.

Jou pulled out of the kiss and gasped for air. “Seth… We can’t do this. I have to meet Atemu.”

“Jou…”

Jou fought his way from Seth’s arms and rushed down the hall.

Seth pushed himself away from the wall and his sapphire blue, floor-length cape fluttered behind him as he started down the hall in the opposite direction that Jou ran in.

“You shouldn’t do that with him.”

Seth stopped moving and narrowed his eyes at the shadowy doorway before Seto stepped out of it. “What do you mean? I shouldn’t do that with him? Why not?”

“He is mine, Seth! He will always be mine!” exclaimed Seto, “And I do not appreciate you touching what belongs to me!”

Seth glared at Seto in the dim light of the torches mounted on the wall. “He belongs to no one! Yet! And when he does, he will be mine! I have taken his kiss. That is something you have yet to do. I know because I am the only man who has partaken of those succulent lips!”

Seto eyed up Seth for a moment, taking in the outfit that so resembled the one he wore except for the fact that Seth had a cape and all the accents were a rich sapphire blue instead of the crimson or burgundy upon Seto’s own garments. “You honestly think that means you’ve won? You haven’t. He belongs to me, and he will leave with me to return to our home in Japan. Just be warned that whatever you do to him, I will do better because I am his master.”

“Why do you want him? Is it simply because I do? When I asked if you were lovers, you were both adamant you were not!” exclaimed Seth, “And when I asked if you felt anything for him, you resolutely swore you did not! You have no claim on him, by any means!”

Seto smirked. “My feelings for him are none of your concern! Just do yourself a favor, Seth, and leave my mutt alone!”

Seth smirked in return. “I don’t think so. May the best man win the mongrel. And he will be mine, Seto. He will be in my bed before you leave to go back to your hideous world!”

“May the best one of us win?” said Seto, “I always do.” He turned and walked down the hallway in the same direction Jou had gone in.

Seth scowled at Seto’s back before continuing on his way.

- - Modern Day - -

Shizuka sobbed into Mokuba’s shoulder. “It’s been weeks, and still no sign of them! Where could they be? Who could have taken them?”

“What could they be doing?” asked Anzu wiping the tears from her own eyes.

“You don’t think the Time Wizard actually sent them to another time, do you?” asked Ryou.

Yugi sighed. “According to the other me, it would take some very powerful Shadow Magic for that to have happened.”

“I sensed some,” said Malik slowly, “Some Shadow Magic being performed.”

“You did?” asked Ryou looking at Malik with wide eyes. “I did too! I thought it was you!”

Malik’s eyes widened. “I thought it was you. It felt like Bakura’s Shadow Magic.”

Malik and Ryou both turned their eyes to Yugi.

“I thought it was Marik,” whispered Yugi, “So… apparently there was some Shadow Magic being performed…”

“Bakura said it shouldn’t have been strong enough to get Time Wizard to work though,” said Ryou sullenly.

“There goes that idea,” mumbled Honda burying his face in his hands.

“What do we do?” asked Mokuba rubbing Shizuka’s hair and noticing with a small smile that she’d cried herself to sleep.

“We’ll figure something out,” said Otogi, “Right guys?”

“Oh, yes!” exclaimed Malik.

“Absolutely!” added Ryou with a smile.

“Of course we will!” exclaimed Yugi.

Mokuba yawned. “Well, why don’t you think about what to do while I sleep here with Shizuka?”

“Sounds like a plan,” said Yugi smiling at Mokuba.

Mokuba squirmed around with Shizuka in his arms until they’re both laying down on the couch. Then he closed his eyes to fall asleep holding her close to him.

“We don’t have any ideas, do we?” whispered Anzu.

Everyone sighed and shook their head.

“But I’m not giving up,” whispered Yugi determinedly, “I don’t know what we can do just yet, but I’m not going to stop until we have Jou and Kaiba back home where they belong!”

“That’s right!” exclaimed Otogi, “Jou wouldn’t give up if it was one of us!”

“But where the hell could they be?” mumbled Honda gloomily.

- - 3000 years ago - -

Jou set his personal CD player on the bed beside him after turning it off. He smiled to himself when he thought about how he smuggled this piece of technology back in time with him by simply having it hanging off the back of his belt beneath his school jacket. He closed his eyes and yawned before allowing sleep to claim him.

“Jou?” called Mai pushing the door open slightly, “Are you in here?”

“Well? Is he there, Mai?” asked Isis from the hallway, “Mokuto wants to see him.”

Mai pushed the door open wider and stepped inside. She saw Jou lying on the bed. She glanced back at Isis. “I think he’s asleep.”

Isis stepped inside. “That would be understandable considering what time of the night it is, but Mokuto swore it was important and couldn’t possibly wait until tomorrow. We should wake him.”

Mai just nodded her head.

“I mean you should wake him since he is closer related to you, Mai,” said Isis.

“But what if he sleeps like Jono!” Mai’s eyes widened.

“Are you afraid of your adopted cousin, love?” asked Isis.

Mai shot a mock glare at Isis before storming over to the bed. “Jou?”

Jou rolled over onto his side.

Mai’s eyes landed on the silver circular object lying on the bed beside Jou. She reaches out carefully and lifted it. “What is this?”

Isis stepped up beside Mai and grabbed the wire dangling from the device. She pulled on it to find that the other end connected to an even odder semi-oval contraption. “I have no idea. We should waken Jou and ask him.”

Mai ran a finger over the surface she held and pressed something that moved slightly.

~ Yo’ listen up, here’s the story! ~

Mai screamed and released the silver object in her hands so it fell back on the bed.

Isis threw the piece in her hands away when the horrid sound emerged from it.

~ About a little guy that lives in a blue world. ~

“Harpie Lady!” exclaimed Mai summoning up her feathered friend.

“Shit!” exclaimed Jou groaning and sitting up.

“Don’t worry, Jou! I’ll handle this monster!” exclaimed Mai.

~ And all day and all night and everything he sees. ~

“What? Mai! Stop!” exclaimed Jou. He grabbed up his CD player and pressed the stop button. “What are you doing in here and just what were you about to attack?”

“That thing you are holding is a demon, isn’t it?” asked Isis, “It makes such hideous sounds! Wailing to be freed from its prison!”

“Or put out of its misery which is what I’m about to do!” exclaimed Mai.

“Unsummon the Harpie Lady!” exclaimed Jou, “Send her back where you got her! And I’ll try to explain what this is!”

“Are you sure?” asked Mai raising an eyebrow.

Jou smiled. “Yes. This couldn’t harm a fly!”

“Harpie Lady! Return!” exclaimed Mai.

“Okay, now what is that thing?” asked Isis.

“You guys have music here, right?” asked Jou.

“Yes. The court has musicians and sometimes there are traveling troupes that come through with dancing girls and musicians,” said Isis, “We enjoy their performances quite well because they are so infrequent.”

“Okay, so you know the concept of music. Good,” said Jou, “That’s what this is.” He held up the CD player. “This contains tiny little musicians who can’t leave here, because they don’t want to. They like it inside. And when I push the buttons on it, they play their music for me, and I can tell them which song I want them to play by pushing different buttons. Does that make sense?”

“There are little people inside?” asked Mai looking horrified, “Are you sure that they don’t want to be freed?”

“Um… well, that was about the worst explanation I’ve ever given, but since you don’t understand anything from my time I guess it’ll have to do. Let’s just say that this will play music and I don’t want it destroyed,” said Jou.

“All right,” said Isis, “Can we listen to this music?”

“Sure, but it’s in English… Well, this one’s in English. I do have a few other CDs with me… but you won’t know what they’re singing,” said Jou reluctantly, “You realize that, right?”

“We understand,” said Isis, “The traveling troupes will often have songs in many different languages, and we do not always know what they mean, but the music itself can be so powerful. And we have you here to translate for us.”

Jou smiled. He pushed the play button.

~ Yo’ listen up, here’s the story! ~
~ About a little guy that lives in a blue world. ~

“This is the story about a little man who lives in a blue world,” explained Jou, “Everything he sees all around him is blue.”

~ And all day and all night and everything he sees. ~
~ Is just blue, like him inside and outside. ~
~ Blue his house with the blue little window. ~
~ And a blue corvette and everything is blue for him. ~
~ And himself and everybody around. ~
~ Cause he ain’t got nobody to listen… ~

Jou hit the pause button on his CD player. “He lives in a blue house with a little blue window and a blue corvette and everything is blue for him and everybody else, and no one will listen to him.”

“I don’t understand. What is a corvette?” asked Mai.

“A corvette. Let’s just say it is a fancy… uh, chariot?” Jou bit his lower lip. “Um, wagon?”

“A fancy wagon?” asked Mai, “All right. It is a future term I assume.”

“Yeah,” said Jou.

Mai nodded.

“Okay, this next part is just vocalization. It doesn’t have any meaning. They are just sounds to show the vocal talents of the people singing.” Jou pushed the pause button to continue the music.

~ I’m blue… ~
~ Da ba dee da ba die. Da ba dee da ba die. Da ba dee da ba die. Da ba dee da ba die. Da ba dee da ba die. Da ba dee da ba die. Da ba dee da ba die. ~
~ I’m blue… ~
~ Da ba dee da ba die. Da ba dee da ba die. Da ba dee da ba die. Da ba dee da ba die. Da ba dee da ba die. Da ba dee da ba die. Da ba dee da ba die. ~

Isis laughed as the music continued without the words. “This is funny music.”

“Yeah. That was the chorus line,” said Jou smiling at the two girls’ reactions to his music, “It will repeat over again later in the song.”

~ I have a blue house with a blue window. ~
~ Blue is the color of all that I wear. ~
~ Blue are the streets and all the trees are too. ~
~ I have a girlfriend and she is so blue. ~

“I have a blue house with a blue window, and all my clothes are blue. The streets and the trees are blue. Even my girlfriend is blue,” said Jou, “All the people are blue, like my wagon. Everything I say and think is blue. My feelings are blue too.”

~ Blue are the people here that walk around. ~
~ Blue like my corvette it’s in and outside. ~
~ Blue are the words I say and what I think. ~
~ Blue are the feelings that live inside me. ~

The chorus began on the CD again.

“Where I come from, blue is more than just a color. It is a state of being, a feeling. If you’re sad, you are considered blue. You’re not necessarily blue colored, but you’re feeling blue or depressed,” explains Jou.

“I see,” said Isis, “And what color would you be if you were happy?”

“If you’re in love you’re pink,” said Jou blushing slightly, “but there is no real color associated with happiness.”

~ Inside and outside. ~
~ Blue his house with the blue little window. ~
~ And a blue corvette and everything is blue for him. ~
~ And himself and everybody around. ~
~ Cause he ain’t got nobody to listen… ~

“They’ve sang that part before,” said Mai.

“Yes they have,” said Jou as the chorus began again.

“I like this song. It is a bit confusing, but the music behind it is nice.” Mai smiled and pulled Isis into a dance with her.

“Maybe we could listen to more of your music later?” asked Isis as Mai twirled her around.

“Sure,” said Jou, “Now… why did you come wake me up again?”

“That’s right! Mokuto wishes to speak to you, immediately,” said Isis stopping her dance.

“Mokuto?” asked Jou breathing heavily all of a sudden. He stopped his CD player and set it down on the bed. “Take me to him.”

Mai and Isis guided Jou out of the room and down the halls to the room where Mokuto should be sleeping peacefully.

Mokuto paced back and forth as he waited impatiently for Jou. He didn’t notice Jou enter with the two women.

“Mokie?” asked Jou.

Mokuto turned to see Jou. “Jou! Thank Ra you’re here!”

“What is it?”

“I’ve spoken to Seth…”

Jou swallowed hard and knelt beside the shorter boy. “And?”

“And I think he’s just using you because you look like Jono,” said Mokuto, “He swears that it isn’t true, but I don’t believe him.”

“That’s it? You just think he’s using me?” asked Jou. He sighed. “I know it seems that way. That may even be what’s going on, but he may be genuinely interested in me as a person. If he won’t even tell you, his own brother, what his real intentions are, then we really don’t have any evidence he isn’t genuine in his interest. The only way to know for sure is to let it all play out.”

Mokuto’s eyes teared up. “I don’t want to see you get hurt because he’s just too caught up in a past that can never be!”

“Yeah, well. If he hurts me, that’s my choice,” said Jou, “He can’t hurt me unless I let him. That’s the first lesson about love. When you open yourself to someone to love him and be loved by him, you put yourself at risk of being hurt. It’s a risk you take because to be loved and to love in return is worth all the potential pain.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You will, Mokie,” said Jou, “Now, don’t worry about me and Seth. Just get some sleep. It will work itself out in the end. I know it will.”

“Okay,” said Mokuto.

“Good night,” said Jou, “Would you like me to tuck you in?”

Mokuto blushed. “I’m fine!”

Jou turned and saw Isis and Mai still standing in the doorway. He blushed and ushered them out of the room.

“What do you really think of what Mokuto said?” asked Isis walking back towards Jou’s room with him.

“I think exactly what I said to him,” said Jou, “Seth can’t hurt me unless I let him. I think, I think I understand why I came back here.”

“Oh, then please tell me,” said Isis, “I hold the Millennium Tauk, which is capable of seeing the future, and even I don’t know why you are here.”

“I came back here to help Seth move on. To help him say good-bye to Jono so he can live his life to the fullest,” said Jou.

Mai quickly pulled Jou into an embrace that knocked him off balance.

“Mai?” squawked Jou. He fell into Mai forcing them both to the stone floor.

“I think you’re here to help us all move on,” whispered Mai holding Jou close as a few tears escaped her eyes.

After a moment, Jou and Mai managed to get back to their feet.

“You don’t have to walk me to my room,” said Jou, “Don’t you two want to spend some alone time together?”

“Good night, Jou,” said Isis grabbing Mai’s hand and hurrying her down the hallway.

Jou continued towards his room.

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

Jou walked out onto the balcony he shared with Seto and looked out onto the early morning sky.

“You’re awake early,” said Seto quietly.

Jou spun around to see Seto sitting near the doorway into his room. He clutched his hand to his chest. “Shit! Seto! You scared me!”

Seto smirked. “Jumpy this morning?”

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

“About?”

Jou looked at Seto to see the genuinely curious expression cross the brunet’s normally stoic face. He 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.” Jou 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!” exclaimed Jou.

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

Jou’s eyes widened, half expecting Seto to force his tongue into his mouth next, so it surprised him even more when in a minute later, Seto pulled away. He took a deep breath. “You don’t kiss too many people, do you?”

Seto glared at Jou and started to back off. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“It’s not a jab, Seto. It’s an observation,” said Jou slowly, “You don’t seem to know how to kiss properly.” He blushed as he pulled Seto back up against him. “I’ll admit I’m not the most experienced, but I can help you a bit.”

“What do you…?”

Jou leaned forward slightly and pressed his lips gently to Seto’s a second before closing his eyes. He spoke in between short, gentle kisses. “You need to be gentle at first… until you find out… how each individual likes to be kissed… Every person… likes it different.”

Seto’s hands wrapped around Jou’s waist as the blond kissed him. His eyes closed and he succumbed to the enjoyment of this simple kiss.

“Then, when you have the hang of that… you start to use your tongue a little.” Jou lapped at Seto’s lips with the tip of his tongue. “Don’t force it,” he whispered, “Let your lover open his mouth for you.”

Seto hesitantly moved his tongue to play lightly with the tip of Jou’s.

Jou pulled back slowly and took a deep breath while opening his eyes. He smiled at Seto. “Better.”

Seto’s eyes opened, and he smiled in return.

“Would you like to continue this?” asked Jou blushing as he stared into Seto’s cool blue eyes, “Would you let me in if I asked?”

“Yes,” whispered Seto leaning back in to gently kiss Jou once more. He watched Jou’s eyes flutter closed before he lowered his own eyelids.

Jou’s tongue slipped out again to lightly caress Seto’s lips.

Seto slowly opened his mouth, only to feel Jou’s tongue enter cautiously and move around at a leisurely pace, twirling around his own. He clenched his eyes tighter shut, trying to prevent the moan from forming in his throat.

Jou pulled out of the kiss and gasped for breath even as Seto did the same. His cheeks reddened. “You want to try it now?”

Seto took the offer and quickly pressed his lips against Jou’s, eyes closed once again. At first, his kisses were short and gentle, but then he started to add a little tongue to tickle Jou’s lips.

Jou opened his mouth wantonly. He kept his eyes open just a slit so he could still see Seto’s image through the layer of his eyelashes.

Seto slid his tongue into Jou’s mouth and moved it about in much the same way that Jou had done to him.

Jou pressed his groin up against Seto’s hip to let the brunet know just how much he enjoyed this kissing session, as proof by the erection straining for attention.

Seto tore his mouth away from Jou’s and began to kiss the slim neck while breathing heavily.

“Oh, damn! You’re a fast learner!” exclaimed Jou grinding his erection in Seto’s hip. He moaned and continued the action of grinding against Seto.

“I’m always a fast learner,” whispered Seto into Jou’s ear as he kissed it. He thrust his hips against Jou to rub his own erection against Jou’s hip.

Jou blushed a bright red when he realized how turned on Seto was as well, but he didn’t move away.

Seto kissed Jou again, ripping the air from their lungs again before releasing the delightful mouth.

“Wow… Did… did we just make out?”

“So elegant with words,” teased Seto slowly releasing Jou and stepping away from him. “Yes, we were just making out.”

“Why?” Jou turned crimson. “I mean… why me? I thought we hate each other. Why would you want to kiss me?”

“You are the closest person to me,” said Seto, “I suppose it makes sense that, you being from the same place as I am that I would be drawn to you. And I’ve always been attracted to blonds. You and Mai are the only blonds here, and she’s… well, she’s female and taken. Mai and Isis are lovers.”

“Wait… you’ve always been attracted to blonds?” asked Jou, “But there aren’t that many blonds at our school.”

It’s Seto’s turn to blush this time. “Forget I said anything. It’s getting late. I should go take a bath and get dressed properly. You should too.”

“Uh-huh,” mumbled Jou still trying to recount all the blonds he’d ever seen back in Domino as Seto slipped back into his own room. He wandered back into his room and to his already prepared bath before shedding the clothing he’d never taken off from the day before, and he climbed into the water. “But Malik and I are the only full blond guys at school! And Malik’s psychotic!” he exclaimed relaxing into the water, “Could he have always been attracted to me?”

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

Namu cuddled up to the warm body beside him. He yawned and blinked his eyes open.

“So you are awake,” whispered Bakura sitting up.

“Mmm-hmm… awake,” mumbled Namu sitting up and rubbing his eyes.

Bakura passed a loaf of bread to Namu. “I brought your breakfast.”

“Thank you,” said Namu taking the bread. He looked at it for a moment before turning his amethyst eyes to Bakura and giving an angelic smile. “Have you eaten?”

Bakura’s eyes widened. “Not yet…”

Namu broke the loaf in half and held out one piece towards Bakura. “Here.”

“You’re offering some of your breakfast to me?” asked Bakura in shock, “Why?”

“Because you haven’t eaten yet.”

Bakura took the bread from Namu slowly, half expecting the blond to rip it away from his fingers.

Namu’s smile widened as he took a bite of his half-loaf of bread.

“You know, I thought you were going to die last night,” said Bakura before taking a bite of bread, “You were so cold, and you wouldn’t stop shaking.”

“Did you spend the entire night with me?” asked Namu.

“Most of it. I left to get some more blankets and breakfast,” said Bakura, “But the rest of the time I spent here watching over you.”

“Thank you,” said Namu leaning up to give Bakura a quick peck on his lips. He blushed before returning to his breakfast.

“I thought you couldn’t do that!” exclaimed Bakura, “You lied to me!”

“No… I didn’t lie,” said Namu, “I have to be pure to have my healing powers. So any acts of affection must be freely given because I chose to give them. They can’t be taken and no one can order me to give them. If you were to kiss me when I didn’t want to be kissed, I would be tainted. Then I wouldn’t be able to heal. That’s especially true if you were to try to force me into bed with you.”

“But if you were to come into my bed because of your desire for me?”

Namu blushed and turned his face away. “If my feelings for you were true and pure, then I would remain true and pure and I would still be a powerful healer.”

Bakura finished his bread as he thought over Namu’s words.

Namu finished eating in silence.

“Here,” said Bakura passing Namu back his travel herb kit, “I took this off you when I brought you here, and I told you yesterday I would return it once you’d healed me.”

“Thank you, Bakura,” said Namu, “May I ask a question?”

“Go ahead, Namu.”

“What do you plan to do with me?” asked Namu slowly.

“I really haven’t thought that far ahead,” said Bakura, “But I don’t intend to hurt you or taint you. You are much more useful as a healer.”

Namu nodded.

“Now get some more sleep. I’ll bring you some more food at midday.”

“Is there anyone else who needs healing?”

Bakura raised an eyebrow.

“If you intend to keep me, I should make myself useful,” whispered Namu.

“We’ll see about that,” said Bakura with a small smile, “Rest up.”
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I Almost Had You