"It's a sennen puzzle!" Yuugi said proudly, opening the box over the gleaming pieces to show Anzu. "It's had a lot of different names over the years, so it's a mystery."

Jounouchi snorted and turned away from the door. No matter what was tried to dislodge him from his games and his solitary little world, Yuugi couldn't be budged. He fisted the carved piece in his hand and smirked. If Yuugi couldn't finish his current obsession, maybe he'd wake up and see that there were people around him, and not just games.

"Jounouchi, that was kinda cruel, you know?" Honda chastised him as he tossed the piece out of the window. With a splash, it landed in the culvert a couple of stories below. Jounouchi glared moodily out the window.

First Yuugi's oblivion, then Ushio had been lumbering around, making threatening noises. This was just not a good day.

"Don't you have a bento box to buy?" Jounouchi needled him. It was Honda's own fault he was enthralled with Miho, and now he slavishly catered to her every whim. Women! They were so annoying. Except for his little sister Shizuka, Jounouchi would rather live without the sweet manipulative darlings of his own age.

"Oh, yeah!" Honda looked panicked and ran up the hall.

Jounouchi sighed and stared out the window. The culvert below flowed past the school, reflecting the blue sky. He regretted his impulsive action a little but the carved puzzle piece was heavy enough that it would sink instead of being carried along with the stream. He could jump into the culvert and fish it out any time. Maybe he'd stolen it because he wanted Yuugi to wake up and notice the people around him, for a change.

Saa! This wasn't something he should be thinking! He was already perilously close to having evil thoughts about his little classmate. And boys just didn't have thoughts like that and especially did not notice other boys' bodies. And he, Jounouchi, was most definitely a boy...

He wanted to be Yuugi's friend. Despite his bagful of games and how involved he was in his puzzles and cards every day, Yuugi seemed lonely. Jounouchi felt the silent appeal of Yuugi's determined involvement in solitary games, but he was a tough guy. He couldn't just walk up and say 'hey, let's be friends'.

All right, so bullying Yuugi wasn't exactly the best way to show interest in him. But Yuugi didn't seem to take any real offense, and it was the only way Jounouchi could try to get Yuugi to lift his head up from the games.

Yeah, but stealing that puzzle piece... Jounouchi stuffed his hands in his pockets and slouched off. *Jounouchi Katsuya, you're a real loser.* Somehow he had a feeling that he'd pay for this later. Anzu's words about bullying smaller people rang in his head.

"I wasn't gonna hurt him," Jounouchi mumbled to himself. Ch'! Why'd she gotten so upset, anyhow? *I just wanted Yuugi to notice me, and so far he hasn't.* Pretty pathetic!

No, pathetic was how he'd felt when he had been faced down with Ushio. Now that guy was a real school bully. Jounouchi had felt tiny in comparison to the huge upperclassman; probably how Yuugi felt next to them all the time.

Yuugi was short but that height didn't detract from that well-formed little bod-ahh, iya, iya, iya!! Jounouchi shook his head violently. It would never work out, anyway; Yuugi was way too innocent. He coughed. Even if he admitted to himself outright what he wanted, he'd never be able to get it across to Yuugi. Unless he took a long-term view...

"Get a grip, Jounouchi," he told himself.

He'd get the puzzle piece back later. Jounouchi grimaced slightly. If he was lucky, Yuugi wouldn't realize he'd stolen it and would be grateful to him for returning a lost piece.

The next morning, Ushio was waiting to ambush them before school.

Ushio's big foot prodded him in the chest. Jounouchi wheezed and lapsed against the wall of the school building. This was ridiculous. He didn't even know why the upperclassman was picking on them. Beside him, Honda had already collapsed, nose bleeding, eye already halfway swollen shut.

"Wait here," Ushio instructed.

Once he was gone, Jounouchi struggled to get up. His vision grayed out and he sagged against the stone wall. What was this for?? He hadn't done anything lately...teasing Yuugi was the worst thing he could remember.

"Look what I've done, Yuugi-kun."

Jounouchi opened his eyes. Yuugi's worried little face peered at him. Uso. Ushio had beat them within an inch of their lives because Yuugi'd asked him to?? He couldn't believe it. Yuugi must have noticed the missing puzzle piece.

*Yuugi, you really are the lowest...*

"Jounouchi-kun! Honda-kun!" Yuugi cried out. He sounded upset. Why would he be upset if this was because he'd ordered it? "What's going on..."

"You sound surprised, Yuugi-kun," Ushio rumbled. "I, Ushio, am your bodyguard. Because of that you should be glad that I'm protecting you from your bullies." He favored Honda with another kick and the boy stirred and moaned.

"No...no way!" Yuugi protested. "This is too cruel! Are you okay, Jounouchi-kun? Honda-kun?" He hurried forward and kneeled beside them.

Jounouchi glared at Yuugi. His split lip cracked and bled as he opened his mouth. "Yuugi, temee." Honda was close to being passed out beside him. "You're rotten."

"Chigau yo!" Yuugi protested, eyes wide and horrified. "I never asked-"

"O-K, Yuugi," Ushio interrupted, shoving the diminutive boy aside. "I still haven't finished protecting you."

His kick caught Jounouchi squarely in the chest, driving all the breath out of his lungs. Jounouchi jerked and gasped, past the point of resistance. He peered up from beneath his tangled sandy bangs, anticipating another blow. This was gonna hurt.

A slight body interposed itself between Jounouchi and his attacker. "Yamete yo!" Yuugi cried desperately.

"Oi, oi. Seems like you've had a change of heart, Yuugi-kun," Ushio rumbled, hands in his pockets. "What made you change your mind?"

"I can't let you do this to my friends!" Yuugi burst out, arms spread wide, trying with his small body to block Ushio's way. Jounouchi peered up at him. Ushio could sweep him aside in a heartbeat, and then he'd really be hurting.

He lifted his head. "Tomodachi?" Jounouchi repeated. Was this what it took?

Jounouchi listened to Yuugi defend him with increasing disbelief. Yuugi...understood? He realized that Jounouchi had teased him and plucked games out of his hands in a backwards attempt to be his friend?

Finally Ushio told Yuugi that the boy owed him a ridiculous sum of money for his 'bodyguard' work, and left. After dealing Yuugi a few blows, too.

"Are...are you guys okay?" Yuugi asked hesitantly, kneeling beside them again. Ushio had hit him too, and kicked him; his face bore the scrapes and bruises. Jounouchi must've fogged out. He no longer believed that Yuugi had willingly allied himself with Ushio. The upperclassman was an extortionist and *he* was the real bully.

"Fine," Jounouchi muttered tersely. He was confused. *Don't hurt my friends!* He hadn't realized Yuugi had felt anything but distress for being disturbed from his games.

"And Honda-kun..." the boy continued, looking worried as he examined Honda's black eye and bloody nose.

"Don't worry about it," Jounouchi rubbed his head, sitting up. He winced. He was bruised all over. "I'll get him home. Okay? You go home and take care of your own bruises."

Yuugi looked apologetic. "I'm so... I'm so *sorry!*" he burst out.

"It's okay," Jounouchi grimaced, levering himself up and pulling at Honda's arm. "You couldn't help it, and you tried to stop him."

"U-un," Yuugi said, but he still looked troubled.

*So he DOES want to be friends.*

Jounouchi was hurt all over, he could taste blood in his mouth, and Honda was deadweight to his aching arms. But he was encouraged by Yuugi's words and that courageous action. Ushio had hurt him, too.

***

He stood in the culvert searching anxiously, up to his knees in dirty water. *K'so...where is it...I know I didn't pitch it THAT far!* Jounouchi was searching for a gleam of gold in the water. The sky was getting dark and that made his search harder.

"Yuugi, I underestimated you," he said out loud, putting his hands on his knees. He peered into the culvert again, water splashing around his knees. Wet cloth stuck to his skin.

"Mataku da. I guess I really like the kid," Jounouchi sighed. *In that way,* a little voice in his head added. It made him sputter furiously and he threw himself into the search for the missing piece.

At last Jounouchi lifted his hand from the water, fist clutched triumphantly around the odd-looking golden puzzle piece. "Yuugi will be really pleased," he mused, tracing the upraised ridge of what looked like an eye. A flush went through him at the thought. *Yuugi... I guess I really do like him that way.* It was kind of the way he felt for Shizuka, but more intense and... and... He flushed. More physical, though he'd die before admitting it aloud.

He walked towards the Mutou game shop, hands stuffed in his pockets. What made him act the way he did? It wasn't honest. His real feelings for Yuugi were concealed beneath a front of teasing and pestering. But Yuugi, when provoked... his first thoughts were of others, his *friends.* He'd interposed himself between them and Ushio at once.

It made Jounouchi ashamed of himself. But he was trying to make up for it. He'd gotten the puzzle piece back, for the sennen puzzle-thing that was so important to Yuugi. His treasure, he'd called it. And... and he'd try to be honest to Yuugi. Without bullying him.

Jounouchi spotted the Game Shop with its big blocky lettering and froze. He couldn't do it! He couldn't go in, because if he did, he'd look into Yuugi's big guileless eyes and feel like the worst person alive. And the boy would know he'd stolen it and he wouldn't hate him; oh, no, it would be far worse. He'd see disappointment in Yuugi's eyes. Yuugi had gotten himself hurt for someone who'd betrayed him.

*Why the hell did I steal it?* Jounouchi gritted his teeth, ducking into a nearby convenience store. He picked up an envelope and paid for it. He knew why he'd stolen it, but now that he'd done it, it was impossible to take back. If he mailed it to Yuugi, or gave it to a third party, Yuugi would never know.

*And I'll never see Yuugi look at me like I've betrayed him.* He dropped the gold piece into the envelope and sealed it up. If he really did want to be friends with Yuugi, then that was the wrong foot to start on.

Jounouchi weighed the envelope in his hand. Why was he so concerned about one kid's opinion of him? Yuugi was his own age, but it was easy to think of him as a kid because of his size. It was more than just Yuugi's declaration of friendship, shielding their bodies with his own. He'd noticed Yuugi right away. With his slight frame, he was easily the shortest kid in their class. He had perfect manners and the top grades in their freshman class and he was always eager to play games... and he had no friends.

Yuugi didn't seem like the type of person who shouldn't have friends. He was sweet, and open, and his bottom lip looked a little pouty sometimes when he...

"Aargh!" Jounouchi clutched at his head, dropping the envelope.

"Something I can do for you?" a gravelly voice rumbled.

"Eh?" Jounouchi opened his eyes. They bugged out as he was confronted with an older - WAY older - white-bearded version of Yuugi. The family resemblance was strong. He was wearing a kanji-adorned kerchief on his head and his eyes were quizzical.

"Something wrong, bo-ya?" the old man asked.

"N-no," Jounouchi answered, staring at the old guy. "Are you Yuugi's..."

"Jiichan," the old guy supplied. "Sou da, sou da. You must be one of his classmates."

"A-aa," he answered awkwardly. Jounouchi stooped and grabbed the envelope, shoving it into the man's surprised hands. "Here, give this to Yuugi!"

"Hey, what's your name, kid?" Yuugi's jiichan called out behind him, but Jounouchi was already hurrying up the street.

*Mata ne, Yuugi. I did what I could, huh?*

***

"Did you hear? Did you hear?" a girl ran up to her friends, looking excited. "Ushio-san..."

Jounouchi's ears perked up. He was leaning up against the walls in one of the corridors, waiting for Yuugi before class although he'd never admit that. He wanted to see if Yuugi had been able to complete his 'treasure'.

One of his classmates passed by and Jounouchi grabbed his sleeve. "Hey. What's this I hear about Ushio?"

The guy pulled away from Jounouchi, expression apprehensive and excited. "You haven't heard yet?"

"Nah, man, I just got here," Jounouchi shrugged. He was rarely ever early to school.

"A bunch of kids found Ushio-san out in front of the school this morning," the guy said, stepping closer and lowering his voice. "They called the cops. He was crazy, totally out of his head, drooling and playing with a pile of leaves and telling people to look at his money. He thought he was rich!"

"Hn!?" Jounouchi took a step back. "Ushio? You sure you've got the right guy?" He remembered how Ushio had been demanding money from Yuugi yesterday. It had been an absurd sum.

"Yeah! He snapped! They carried him away in a straitjacket..." the guy said, pulling away, then hurried up the hall.

Jounouchi scratched his head. Weird... Ushio didn't seem like the kind of guy to snap just like that. Something would've had to drive him over the edge, and something pretty terrible at that.

He spotted Yuugi heading up the hall, and he leaned against the wall to wait. The kid was humming a happy tune and something hung around his neck, a gleaming-gold, oddly foreign triangle box. It was Yuugi's important treasure. Jounouchi recognized the slanted eye on the front of the puzzle. So, he'd finished it after all.

Jounouchi forced himself to scowl and look away, crossing his arms. Why should he feel so pleased?

"Yo, Yuugi," Jounouchi said, peering sidewise as the kid was about to round the corner.

"Ah... Jounouchi-kun!" Yuugi stopped and looked at him, expression uncertain.

"You... still hurting today, or feeling okay?" Jounouchi asked, slouching with casual indifference.

"I'm fine!" Yuugi answered, brightening. "And you, Jounouchi-kun?"

So damned polite. "Absolutely fine!" Jounouchi answered fervently, ignoring the scrapes and various aches. "So... you got your puzzle together, I see."

"Un," Yuugi nodded.

"Too bad it's not my treasure, as well," Jounouchi grinned, bobbing his head. "I saw it earlier but didn't really take a good look at it. Well, then... could you let me see it some time?" He had the oddest sensation that he was talking about something else, but didn't quite know what. *What's wrong with me today?*

"You could see it, but you wouldn't..." Yuugi looked really confused.

"That's friendship!" Jounouchi finished up confidently. *Nanda?* "Even though we're different, we can be friends."

Yuugi looked up at him, small face stunned. An incredulous smile blossomed on his face. "Un!"

*What's wrong with me? Embarrassing myself by speaking my mind...* It was what he'd told himself to do, but the expression on Yuugi's happy face was embarrassing him more than anything else. Had he really been so harsh? Jounouchi's expression turned disgruntled.

"Well, then... I'm going!" Jounouchi burst out, turning and skidding up the hall. He felt something go flying.

"Jounouchi-kun! Your shoe, your shoe!"

Ahh, now that was *really* embarrassing...

***

"Get down! Everybody get your asses down!" The big man waved the gun around, other hand holding Anzu in the crook of his arm, hand pressed over her mouth to prevent her from screaming.

"Anzu!" Yuugi cried out, starting up from his seat.

K'so! Jounouchi leapt up too. What the hell!? Was it a robbery? Wouldn't you know it... this was the first time he and Yuugi had gone anywhere after school, and something like this had to happen. Who could've predicted that Anzu worked here for her part-time job? Or for that matter, that she would end up the hostage of... some escaped lunatic, from the looks of it.

"Get back," the big guy approached the manager, jabbing his gun at Anzu's temple to underscore his point.

Jounouchi gritted his teeth. Anzu wasn't his favorite person in the world, because Yuugi had a crush on her, but if something happened to her... Well, they just couldn't let anything happen.

The man blindfolded Anzu and dragged her over to a booth with him. Then he waved his gun at the customers still standing. "Bring me some sake and some smokes," he instructed, tightening his grip on Anzu. She whimpered. He pointed the gun directly at Yuugi. "You!"

Yuugi stood frozen, trembling.

"Yuugi," Jounouchi glanced over at his friend. He glared at the man with the gun.

"Everyone else, get down on the floor." He waved his gun again, and barked out, "NOW!"

*K'so!* Jounouchi gritted his teeth, kneeling down. Yuugi looked so small and fragile. If he got hurt...

"I don't wanna see anybody else move now," the man threatened. "If anyone else does, they get this." An explosive round fired off in the close confines of the burger joint.

Jounouchi winced and covered his ears.

Yuugi moved towards the booth where the criminal waited with Anzu, leaving Jounouchi's line of sight. Jounouchi glanced towards the wall where the pay phone was. It was too far. And even if he got there, the cops might not make it in time.

K'so.

"Yuugi?" Anzu's incredulous voice reached him. "It's Yuugi, isn't it? Don't come over here!"

"Shut up!" The meaty sound of flesh hitting flesh.

"Anzu!" Yuugi cried out.

And then, silence.

*It's too quiet over there. What's going on?* Jounouchi crept forward. He needed to see what was going on.

"...yami no game," a husky voice reached his ears, like Yuugi's voice but not quite. It was lower and full of self-confidence. *Game of darkness.* Huh? What was going on?

Jounouchi crept forward further. He rounded the corner on all fours and ran smack into a big denim-clad ass. *Augh!! Gross! Dammit...* "Move," he whispered tersely, shoving aside the huge, shivering guy. A little further, and he'd be able to see...

"The rules are simple," the husky voice murmured.

Jounouchi craned his head. Yuugi? He could almost see the person in the booth across from Anzu and the man with the gun. The body was slight, like Yuugi's, and clad in the same blue uniform... it had to be, but that person was poised, attitude relaxed even with a gun pointed in his face.

"Ahh! We're going to die!" the big man beside him whined, collapsing. He knocked into Jounouchi and the boy fell flat on his stomach. He held still, heart racing. The criminal holding Anzu hostage was trigger-happy enough without giving him a reason to shoot. Jounouchi decided it would be better to stay where he was than to risk himself - or Yuugi, or Anzu - just to satisfy his curiosity. This was not the time.

"GUAHHH!!" A loud cry rocked the small burger joint. "I'm on fire! I'm on fire!"

Yuugi and Anzu were hurrying up the aisle and Jounouchi scrambled to his feet. "Are you okay??" They looked fine. Anzu looked shaken.

"Jounouchi-kun!" Yuugi cried, hurrying towards him. His arms were wide open.

Jounouchi stopped, confused. Uh... was Yuugi expecting something?

The small body impacted against him and arms wrapped around his waist. "I was so worried!"

"Baka, I was worried about you!" Jounouchi returned, staring with bemusement at the crown of dark spiky hair.

Anzu was staring off into space with a dreamy expression. Her hands were clasped over her chest. Jounouchi looked at her suspiciously. Didn't she realize that the person with the husky voice had been Yuugi? It must have been... and yet...

"Ahh, I don't think I ever want to eat hamburgers again!" Yuugi complained, looking around the restaurant.

"Well, come on," Jounouchi told him. "Let's go eat somewhere else."

He glanced back at Anzu. "I wonder who saved me..." she was saying, starry-eyed.

Jounouchi looked down at Yuugi as they left the restaurant. His expression was open and completely unaffected by what had just happened.

"Naa, Yuugi," he began, hands in his pockets, wondering how to broach the subject. *Yuugi, are you really Yuugi? You sounded totally different...* Somehow, he'd either faced down that man with the gun, or distracted him enough to drop a lighter into his drink. Yet Yuugi looked totally oblivious.

"Huh?" Yuugi looked up at him, expression cute.

Jounouchi blinked. He rubbed a hand over his hair. "Ah, nothing."

He didn't even know what he was asking, so how could he say it?

***

"Tadaima." Jounouchi slouched his way through the door, glancing at the kitchen. Booted feet were propped up on the table and the sound of snoring was loud. Good, the old man was asleep. There wouldn't be shattering bottles trailing him on the way to his room this time.

Jounouchi shut his door and locked it. The old man was off his rocker from all that booze already, but he could never be too sure. He'd taken more than one beating from not being careful, and for the most stupid reasons. Not cleaning up the broken bottles the old man had thrown after him, for instance. As if it was his fault he was good at ducking!

He threw himself on his bed, chucking his book bag into a corner. Heh. And Yuugi wondered why he didn't get better grades. It was hard to study at home, although his grades had improved since he and Yuugi had become friends. Now he had a place to go to, and he studied at Yuugi's house a couple of nights a week. It helped that his friend checked his homework and walked him through the tougher problems for math and chemistry.

Jounouchi propped his arms behind his head on the pillow. He was glad Shizuka stayed over with her friends a lot. This would never have happened if Kaasan hadn't died. All their lives had gone down the toilet, but Oyaji's especially. He was a totally different person now. Jounouchi did his best to shield his sister from that, but she still got yelled at whenever she stayed home.

At least Oyaji knew that if he ever lifted a finger to Shizuka, they'd both walk out on him. Jounouchi made sure the old man knew that.

He sighed and tried to let his tension dissolve. Like always, his thoughts ran to Yuugi. Mysterious Yuugi. He'd thought the boy was so open and uncomplicated, but there was something strange going on. Like that time Jounouchi had gotten involved in that stupid JS gang. Yuugi had known, somehow. He'd known where he was, even, and found him.

Jounouchi remembered peering through bruised, puffy eyes and seeing Yuugi's face. But it hadn't quite been Yuugi's face. The eyes had been narrowed and confident, a slight smile on his face proclaiming surety of victory. That small slender body had moved with unusual grace, muscles gathered for a fight. And he'd heard that husky voice once more, before passing out.

*"Let's play a game. The four of you against me."*

And when he came to, he couldn't believe it was Yuugi there, face rain-streaked and battered, smile relieved and happy that Jounouchi had opened his eyes.

*"Yuugi!"* Exhausted and bloody, covered in bruises and aches, he'd collapsed against his friend. And Yuugi had held him.

But Jounouchi still wondered about that husky-voiced boy with the confident eyes that he'd glimpsed. Not quite Yuugi. But it was Yuugi's face and body and, if he lowered his tone and spoke with certainty, his voice, too.

It wasn't just because Jounouchi'd been in trouble.

That time at the Egyptian exhibit, all sorts of weird stuff had been happening. The Egyptian specialist, Yoshimori Kyouju, had turned into some kind of living zombie, and chased him all over the building trying to strangle him. Anzu had ended up on the top of the building, at the end of a plank. Jounouchi grimaced. He remembered that one. As she was about to fall, he'd wedged himself under it and slammed the plank upwards with all his strength, keeping it upright. That chick was heavy!

Somehow, Anzu had snapped out of it when the golden ankh touched her hand. So he'd used it on Kyouju and it made him normal again, too. As they all teetered on that ledge, Yuugi pulling Anzu to safety, Jounouchi clinging to the side of the building with Kyouju clambering over him, he'd caught a glimpse again.

Husky-voiced, confident-eyed Yuugi.

It had been Yuugi who'd told him to grab Kyouju's hand and touch it to the ankh.

*Yuugi...* He had looked so different, wild and beautiful. Like his full potential had been unleashed.

He and Anzu had shared a moment of puzzlement on the roof, as this new, confident Yuugi faced off the Egyptian man who'd put all their lives in danger. And the guy had *backed down*. Then, when Jounouchi had confronted Yuugi...

*"Oi Yuugi!"* He'd reached out and clasped his friend's shoulder.

*"Doushita no, Jounouchi-kun?"* Yuugi had turned wide, puzzled, completely normal eyes on him. Every bit the innocent, once again.

Something fishy was going on. Maybe it had something to do with Yuugi's *Egyptian* puzzle. It was a gleaming golden treasure, the same as that golden ankh with the mysterious powers.

"Ch'! I just don't get it," Jounouchi muttered, turning over onto his side. He stared moodily out the window. He'd thought being Yuugi's friend would be simple and uncomplicated, and the only problem would be his own feelings.

That husky voice. Those gleaming, knowledgeable eyes. And the way Yuugi's slender body had moved...

"Yuugi," Jounouchi breathed, remembering each glimpse. He'd been interested in Yuugi from the start, but this added... something. Jounouchi undid his pants and closed his eyes and *remembered* until he stiffened, body coiling tight. "Yuugi!" Wet warmth covered his fingers.

Someone banged on the door. "Are you in there, worthless boy?" The old man must've woken up.

Jounouchi let his breathing slow to normal and remained silent.

"Katsuya?" The knob rattled. The old man cursed and gave up.

Good. He was going away. Jounouchi pushed himself off the bed, made a face for the mess he had to clean up, and wiped his hand off on the sheets. He'd have to change them anyhow.

He picked up his Duel Monsters deck. He was getting better at it. He could even beat Honda four times outta five! That was something; at least he wasn't totally useless to Yuugi. Ch'. The kid seemed so sweet and innocent, but he was a real master strategist.

Jounouchi was proud to be his friend.

"Mataku da." He could hear the cursing through his door. Bottles were rattling around somewhere, probably the kitchen. He heard a crash. Then boots stomping and the door slamming. The old man had probably run out of booze.

Jounouchi sighed. He just wanted to be someone Yuugi could be proud of, too.

***

"Hey, Yuugi!" Jounouchi clapped his friend on the shoulder. "Let's go to the arcade today! Sound good?"

"Un!" Yuugi looked up at him with a smile. "Ikou, ikou!"

In front of the video arcade, they came to a dead halt. Jounouchi stared at the 'Closed' sign. "Well, that's no good," he sighed.

"You want to come over to my place instead?" Yuugi offered.

Jounouchi looked at his upturned face. Hmm, that could be fun, too... Nng, dame, dame! He had to stop thinking these evil thoughts! Yuugi was an innocent!

"We could play Duel Monsters," Yuugi continued, lifting a finger. "And I'm sure Jiichan would be happy to give you some pointers!"

Jounouchi grimaced, feeling some of his ardor evaporate. Was he really so bad? "U-un, that sounds good." He'd take whatever he could when it came to Yuugi. And it was more time away from home.

"Irrasshai!" Yuugi's Jiichan called out once they reached the Mutou Game Shop, and pushed the front door open. He shuffled out from behind the counter. "Oh, it's you, Yuugi! And you brought Jounouchi with you today!"

"Hai!" Yuugi nodded. "Jiichan, we're going to play Duel Monsters. Would you like to join us?"

"Maa, I suppose it wouldn't hurt for a little while," the old man nodded. "The afternoon business has been slow."

The boys set up a playing field on a table near the back of the shop, and pulled out their decks. "Jiichan, you advise Jounouchi if he's having trouble," Yuugi told his grandfather.

"Ou," Jiichan nodded.

"Only if it looks like I'm in trouble!" Jounouchi emphasized. Hey, he might be a weak player, but he at least wanted to try for himself, first.

"Sure, sure," Jiichan nodded again.

"My turn," Yuugi said, glancing over his cards. He tapped one, frowned, and selected a card. "I'll play the Cyclops first."

"Well, then..." Jounouchi drew five cards, slouched, and stared at them. "I'll play...the Winged Dragon first." He grinned.

"Ahh..." Yuugi scratched his head. "I'm down to 1800 life points. Hmm..." He selected another card and put it down.

Holy Elf... That card only had 800 attack points, so he could just let his Winged Dragon finish her, couldn't he? But no... Yuugi had turned the Holy Elf to the side, so she was defending. He peered at the card. K'so! The Holy Elf had 2000 defense points, so if he didn't bolster his Dragon, he'd lose the card. He drew another card to replace the Dragon he'd played, and looked at his card. Well, he could use his Dragon to defend, and play something else to try and beat her...

Jounouchi frowned at his cards and tried to formulate a plan.

"I'll defend... with this Curse Dragon," Jounouchi declared, putting the card down.

Jiichan nodded at his side. "Good move."

Yuugi had selected another card. "Minotaurus," he said, putting down his card. It had 1700 attack points... the Curse Dragon was okay, with 1800 defense points, but his Winged Dragon was blown away.

"K'so!" Jounouchi stared at the board. At least losing a defensive monster didn't deduct from his life points. He sighed. His deck was beefed up mostly for Dragons and other specialized cards. He drew another one.

"Ah!" Jiichan had leaned forward, looking at his hand.

The Dragon Membrane card. Aha, that would increase his attack energy *and* his defensive points! He put it down next to the Curse Dragon. "Curse Dragon, attack!" Jounouchi said, getting into it.

The Minotaurus was blown away, taking 900 life points with it. Jounouchi grinned.

"Good move," Yuugi said admiringly, giving him a smile. He looked at his cards and put a finger to his lips.

God, the kid was so sexy. And he didn't even know it.

"My turn... hmm..." That finger pressed against Yuugi's bottom lip. Jounouchi bit his own lip and wished Yuugi realized there were *other* games to play. Like alphabet games. The kind for adults.

"I'll play the Knight of Darkness." Yuugi placed the card down, narrowing his eyes. "Fire Saber!"

Jounouchi stared. For a moment, he'd almost looked...

"Ahh! My Dragon!" he said, dismayed. Three hundred life points gone. He drew another card and stared at his hand. Ahh, he was just no good at thinking ahead.

Forty-five minutes later, Jounouchi tossed his cards down, raking tangled sandy bangs out of his eyes. "I'm done for! That last move sure blew me away, Yuugi." He grinned to show there were no hard feelings.

"Un! You put up a good fight, Jounouchi-kun," Yuugi nodded, good-natured. "Do you have to go home right away?"

"No..." Jounouchi collected his cards slowly, lingering over the task. When did he ever have to go home right away? "No, is it okay if I stay awhile?"

"Mochiron!" Yuugi beamed. "We can do our homework upstairs."

"Good, good," Jiichan nodded. "I'll bring you boys a snack later, when I close the shop."

"Sounds good!" Yuugi picked up his book bag. "Ikou, Jounouchi-kun."

Some time later, Jounouchi tossed aside his math book. "Ahh, dame dame! My brain is all drained out from playing Duel Monsters."

Yuugi giggled and put down his pencil. "Are you sure that's why your brain is drained, Jounouchi-kun?" he teased.

"Kora!" Jounouchi rolled over and grabbed him in a headlock. "Are you calling me stupid?" He mussed up Yuugi's spiky hair.

"Mmf!" Yuugi squirmed this way and that. "Lemme go!"

"Ho, not until you cry 'uncle'!" Jounouchi chuckled. Yuugi flopped around, twisting over his lap, and they rolled over the floor.

"Had enough?" Jounouchi laughed, pinning him.

Yuugi squirmed again, eyes wide. "Mou ii!" He was laughing breathlessly.

"Nn..." Jounouchi pushed himself off and scrambled away from Yuugi. What a time to come up hard! But he was a guy, after all, and he couldn't help himself. Not when Yuugi was so hot, whether the kid knew it or not. He'd taken off his blue school uniform jacket and he was wearing his sleeveless black top, with the heavy buckle at the neck. The sennen puzzle dangled near his belly.

Man, did he even *know* what he looked like?

"Jo-Jounouchi-kun?" Yuugi wavered, looking small and uncertain. "Did I do something wrong?"

"Betsuni," Jounouchi told him, drawing his legs up. The only thing worse than getting hard like that would be Yuugi noticing it. The kid was totally unprepared for hentai thoughts, let alone his good friend Jounouchi-kun having hentai thoughts about him. "Maybe I should get going."

"But we haven't finished our homework yet!" Yuugi said, dismayed. He scooted closer. "Jounouchi-kun, if it's what I said, I'm sorry. I take it back!"

"No, that's not it!" Jounouchi shook his head. Yuugi was so self-effacing, he shouldn't be surprised the kid thought it was his fault. Well...it kinda was. But not the way Yuugi thought. "It's not what you said. It's nothing."

Yuugi looked doubtful.

"Let's finish our homework, okay?" Jounouchi tried for a reassuring smile. It must've looked convincing, because Yuugi smiled back, the expression tentative.

"Okay. Math, or should we switch to English instead?"

"English," Jounouchi said promptly. That was one area he wasn't so bad in. He and Shizuka talked together in English a lot, because the old man couldn't understand them when they switched to the other language. He knew his accent sucked pretty badly, and he could hardly ever tell the difference between an 'l' and an 'r,' but he understood it well enough.

"Oh, I might need your help," Yuugi grimaced. "There's a lot of vocabulary, and I'm better at math than I am with English."

"Your accent is pretty good, though," Jounouchi offered. "Better than mine, anyhow!"

"Maa," Yuugi said deprecatingly.

They opened their books and spread out the homework side by side. Jounouchi was careful to keep space between them. If Yuugi's thigh brushed him... he gulped. He might not be responsible for the consequences. Gods, was he all animal instinct, or what?

"Let's start with the verbs," Yuugi said. He ran his finger down the list. There were three verbs on this week's list. He said the first one out loud in English. "'To give'."

"Aw, that's easy," Jounouchi said. "I'll give you a sentence in Japanese and you come up with the English one, okay?"

"Un!"

Jounouchi thought about it. He started having wicked thoughts. Well... it couldn't hurt to say it, and it *was* in Yuugi's limited English vocabulary... "Kiss-u shite."

Yuugi blinked. He thought about it. "Give me a kiss?" he repeated slowly, in English, unconsciously leaning close.

"Don't mind if I do," Jounouchi muttered, mesmerized at the play of the dim lamplight over Yuugi's face. He bent forward, fingertips brushing over Yuugi's cheek.

Yuugi looked up at him, eyes wide. "Jounouchi-kun?"

"Ahh, gomen, gomen!" Jounouchi pulled away. *What am I thinking?*

"There's a shorter form of that sentence in English, you know," he rambled on. "A command form. You can do it if you use the noun as a verb, and get rid of the verb on our list. Can you do it?" Sheepishly he rubbed at his head.

Yuugi's big eyes were still fixed on him. "Kiss me," he whispered, making it sound like more of a plea than a command.

Did he...? Jounouchi wavered, then leaned forward. His eyes slid shut just before his lips pressed down on Yuugi's.

Yuugi's mouth seemed to flinch under his, then the boy froze.

*K'so! Was he pushing it?* Jounouchi kissed Yuugi tentatively, his lips barely moving over the other boy's, hand coming up to brush over Yuugi's cheek again. By degrees, Yuugi's mouth softened under his. Jounouchi worked at his lips slowly, turning it into an open-mouthed but dry kiss. Yuugi gasped, and fitted his mouth to Jounouchi's in reciprocation.

When they broke, they were both breathing a little faster.

"Jo-Jounouchi-kun," Yuugi faltered, putting a hand to his mouth.

"I'm sorry," Jounouchi apologized. He hitched away, then drew his knees up. Dammit, he was getting hard again. "I'm sorry, I..."

Yuugi blinked. "Jounouchi-kun, I didn't know you were so literal about English homework."

Jounouchi blinked. Then he started laughing. After a moment, Yuugi joined in.

"Yuugi, are you..." He trailed off, worried. They were good friends. He didn't want to ruin that. He didn't want to push Yuugi, but he felt the way he felt.

"Jounouchi-kun, I didn't know you felt that way," Yuugi said, braiding his hands together, eyes not quite meeting his.

"I'm sorry. That was a hell of a thing for me to do," Jounouchi apologized, rubbing at his head nervously. *Hell of a stupid thing!*

"N-no... I liked it," Yuugi admitted in a small voice, still not meeting his eyes.

"And I'll never do it again..." Jounouchi continued. He skidded to a halt. "Huh?"

Yuugi lifted his face and his eyes were striking. Serious, a little more mature, but still the shy innocent Yuugi underneath. "I liked it," he repeated, and gave Jounouchi a small smile. "D-Does that make me strange?"

Relief flooded through him. He hadn't driven away his friend. "No stranger than I am," Jounouchi chuckled. "Besides, I wanted to, first."

A knock came on the door. "Do you boys want some dinner?"

Yuugi turned. "Hai, Jiichan!" he called. A crimson blush had invaded his cheeks. "We'll be there soon!"

Jounouchi started gathering up his books.

"You're not staying for dinner?" Yuugi said, plainly disappointed.

"I'll stay, but I'd better get going right after," Jounouchi replied. "We can practice our English homework later, okay?" He gave Yuugi a rakish grin.

"Hai!"

***

Jounouchi propped his head in his hands and stared moodily out the window. *What the heck is wrong with me?* He wanted to score with his best friend. He thought his best friend was someone else. Or two people. Or was being influenced somehow by a thousand-year old Egyptian puzzle. Or... hell, he didn't know!

Aside from the fact that Yuugi was undeniably adorable, and he'd seen him looking unutterably sexy, Jounouchi wasn't sure about *anything*. He'd thought about last night's kiss a lot.

It was morning and Oyaji was already at work. They weren't poor, but because the old man was an alcoholic, he worked sporadically. Enough to get them by.

"Good morning, oniichan," Shizuka bustled into the kitchen, book bag slung over her shoulder, dressed neatly in her junior high uniform.

"Ohayo," Jounouchi responded, lifting up his head.

"You look so thoughtful," Shizuka smiled, eyes crinkling up. "Is something wrong, oniichan?"

Jounouchi considered confiding in his sister. He decided to speak obliquely. "What if...a guy was falling for his best friend? And his best friend was someone sweet and innocent, like you?" He tickled his sister in the ribs.

Shizuka squeaked and swatted him. "Well, that person should tell his best friend, and let them decide."

Jounouchi gave her a wry look. "What if that person's best friend was another guy?"

"Are?" Shizuka blinked. "O-oh."

Jounouchi sighed. "Does that make him gay? Or just confused?"

Arms wound around his neck from behind. Shizuka rested her cheek against his. "Oniichan, what matters is how you feel. And how he feels. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks."

"I - the thing is, I don't know if I love him." Jounouchi flushed. "But I definitely want to be with him."

Shizuka blinked, and her look turned appraising. "Maa, oniichan. Don't worry, manly love has a long history in Japan."

"Shi-Shizuka!" Jounouchi sputtered.

Her laughter was bright and twinkling. "It'll work out, Oniichan. Do you want some breakfast?"

"Nah, thanks, I had some toast," Jounouchi replied, pushing himself up from the table. "I've got to get to school."

Shizuka turned from the stove and gave him a sweet smile. "To see Yuugi?"

Jounouchi rubbed at his head. How did Shizuka always know? It must be more than just a sisterly bond. "Yeah... to see Yuugi." He grinned and gave her a thumb's up.

"Ganbatte!" Shizuka called after him.

He'd need more than just luck, he'd need tact. And patience. And delicacy. And those were things Jounouchi wasn't so great at!

***

Jounouchi pushed away from the wall as his small friend approached. Yuugi clutched his backpack straps, face lighting up as he spotted him.

"Yo, Yuugi." He tucked his bookbag under one arm. He felt nervous and didn't quite know why. He and Yuugi had been like normal all day, clowning around, playing Duel Monsters during lunch. But now the afternoon stretched out ahead of him and after last night's kiss, Jounouchi wasn't sure how to behave around his friend.

"Ya, Jounouchi-kun!"

Maybe they shouldn't be alone together just yet. He rubbed the back of his head. Well, maybe they should try the arcade again. "Yuugi, want to go to the game center?"

"Ikou, ikou!"

"Yoshi!" Jounouchi declared as they paused outside the game center. "Today I'm going to beat someone's top score. Just wait and see!"

"Jounouchi-kun...aren't most of these games really difficult?" Yuugi spoke up over his shoulder.

"Ou!" Jounouchi nodded. He ignored the hint of doubt in Yuugi's tone. Yeah, he wasn't as good as Yuugi at gaming... but he was no slouch, either! "Now I'm going to make myself legendary!"

They both looked at the racing game. Jounouchi pointed at it. "Take a look at this racing game."

They both considered the high scores. The top ranking was 'K-A-I.'

"Kai," Yuugi repeated, sounding troubled.

"Hm, maybe not this game," Jounouchi looked around. He knew that Yuugi had had trouble with Kaiba...it must be reminding him. "A puzzle game? A fighting game? I dunno, beating Kai might be pretty satisfying..."

"He~h!" Yuugi looked interested. "He's a really strong person!"

"Oo-shi!" Jounouchi declared, fired up by the interest in Yuugi's eyes. "I will *definitely* defeat this KAI!"

" Heh heh! Don't hold your breath long! You'll never beat Kaiba-sama." A little black-haired kid wandered by with his pack of cronies.

"Ehhh!?" Jounouchi bristled. "Nani!? You little brat!"

Well, after that, Jounouchi was totally determined to beat KAI's high score. Yuugi looked concerned and asked about Kaiba, but Jounouchi was fixated now. He blew off the kids with an undignified comment and hopped into the racer. Yuugi had looked really upset; the kids had said something else about 'Kaiba-sama' but at that point Jounouchi already had his mind on the game.

He knew Kaiba had tried to steal Yuugi's Jiichan's most important card, but had the bastard tried anything else? It made him feel sick.

"K'so!" He slammed his hands on the wheel when he crashed and burned. So much for his high score. He brooded and stared at the screen. Man, he didn't even rate at the bottom of the rankings.

He wandered past Yuugi, playing at a virtual fighter game. The boy's player looked really familiar... "Hey, that Bruce Lee character is pretty cool."

"I think Bruce Lee's great!" Yuugi said happily.

Jounouchi stuffed his hands in his pockets, watching the game. Yuugi beat the computer, and then someone challenged him.

"Yoshi! I won't lose!" Yuugi declared, as the 'new challenger' phrase flashed across the screen. "Ready!"

Yuugi won, of course. Jounouchi laced his fingers behind his head. "New challenger!" Yuugi exclaimed, after his win. "Osh'..."

Jounouchi watched as Yuugi beat that round. And another. And another. He stretched and yawned. Yuugi was so damned good at these games!

"Uwa!" the boy exclaimed, rubbing at his fingers. "Another new challenger!"

Jounouchi grinned at him affectionately. "I'm going to get some juice, okay?"

"I'm going to beat you again," Yuugi told the screen, as the round began. Jounouchi didn't think he even heard.

He headed for the juice machines. As he slipped his yen into the slot, he stared mindlessly at the selection. Jounouchi considered banging his head against the machine. Things were the same as they'd always been between he and Yuugi. It was as if he'd never kissed him last night. Yuugi was so wrapped up in gaming right now...

Well, that had been his idea. He'd suggested going to the arcades, after all! Since Yuugi was inevitably enthralled by games, he could hardly expect any other result.

He picked out a coffee from the vending machine. Maybe Yuugi would get tired after this seventh challenge... Hah! Who was he kidding? They'd be here until Yuugi realized it was dinner time.

"Achichi...this coffee's hot," he sighed, rounding a row of video games. There was Yuugi. "Nn..." Yuugi was sprawled out beside the game he'd been playing, looking battered. As if someone like Ushio had worked him over.

"Yuugi!" Coffee went flying. Jounouchi hurried over to his friend. Dammit, a slight little guy like Yuugi was a magnet for bullies!

"Yuugi! Daijoubu ka, Yuugi?" he demanded, pausing by his friend. He was gonna get the bastard who had done this.

"U-un," Yuugi said weakly, wiping blood from his split lip. "Daijoubu."

Anger swelled up in him, fueling an all-consuming need for vengeance. Yuugi's puzzle had been severed from the thong around his neck, and his face was already starting to bruise.

"He went that way," one of the kids pointed.

"Yuugi." He paused by his friend, putting a hand to the boy's bruised face.

"My puzzle..." Tears welled up in Yuugi's eyes. "Jounouchi-kun, he took my puzzle. Itai yo..." He winced away from Jounouchi's fingers.

"Yuugi, I'll get it back for you." Jounouchi stood, gathering his hands into fists. "Zettai ni. I promise you, Yuugi, I'll get your puzzle back."

Jounouchi broke into a sprint. In the street, he could see a man in a spandex jogging outfit with Yuugi's puzzle in his hands. Anger found a focus.

"Stop right there!"

Jounouchi stood and glared at the man as he turned, gathering his anger. It was gonna be a fight. He'd have to be fast and smart. He would definitely beat this man and get back Yuugi's puzzle, and prove himself good for *something* to his friend!

"You asshole, you hurt my friend. I'm definitely gonna beat your ass."

"Heh heh..." the black-haired man snickered. He bore a superficial resemblance to Bruce Lee, but it was a twisted image of the Jeet Kune Do master. "You should know, I'm a street fighter. You won't be able to beat me."

"Temee," Jounouchi snarled, "quit joking around. That pendant belongs to a friend of mine. Give it back now!"

"Heh," the man laughed, "I'm gonna enjoy this. You're the joker here, kid. I'm gonna pound you into the ground."

"We could talk all day or we could fight," Jounouchi growled.

"Maa, don't be in such a hurry, kid," the man said, sticking his hands in his jacket pockets and rocking back on his heels. His expression was cruel and overbearing. "I'm not just a Bruce Lee fan. I've studied his techniques, too. And one of his most lethal was the one-inch punch. You heard of that, kid? From the distance of an inch, you can punch through just about anything."

Jounouchi lifted an eyebrow, unimpressed. He'd heard of Bruce Lee's one-inch punch, and doubted this man could recreate the real thing.

"You get it?" the man lifted a finger, grin evil. "The one-inch punch?"

"So...I'll use my one-inch punch against you, punk. And you'll do your best to dodge it! If you win this game, I'll give back this pendant!" The man lifted up the sennen puzzle. It looked out of place around his neck. From the nasty grin on his face, he expected Jounouchi to lose.

*He said - game!?* Not fight, but game. Why had he chosen that particular phrasing? *Nani?*

"Since I have no intentions of giving up this pendant, I won't lose." The man smirked at him. He pulled out two knives from his jacket. "The rules are simple. You hold one of these knives in your mouth."

*Ku...* Jounouchi suppressed a flinch. This was no ordinary game; this was a death game. He could lose his life, trying to recover Yuugi's puzzle.

"Hora, like this," the man grinned, taking the blade and placing it between his teeth. "Get it? My knife will cut you up bad, once my punch lands."

"Aa! I'll do it! At any rate, your knife isn't gonna cut me. You'd better be worried about yourself." Jounouchi placed the knife between his teeth.

"Hahaha...when my punch hits you, that knife is gonna go through the back of your throat." He laughed cruelly. He assumed a ready stance, fists up for the strike. "That's the game of darkness."

Jounouchi stood casually, hands in pockets, the knife between his teeth. The casual pose belied his tension, awaiting the first blow, his body poised to dodge. He could use his fists, too; there hadn't been anything in the rules about that. But he had the beginnings of an idea so he'd keep his hands in his pockets for now.

"Iku ze!" the man shouted, lunging forward. "Acho-" The high-pitched noise was straight out of the Bruce Lee movies Jounouchi remembered.

A fist came flying for his face and Jounouchi evaded it easily. Then came a barrage of strikes, blurring in their swiftness. Jounouchi dodged each one but they came faster; it was more difficult with each punch.

A trickle of sweat ran down his face. *I'm going to have to do more than dodge his one-inch if I want to survive this!*

"Acho-! Acho-!" The man swung again and again.

"Ku-" Jounouchi dodged a little too slow and felt a fist graze the side of his cheek. The warm trickle on his skin told him he'd been cut. By that one-inch! It wasn't only dangerous if it hit the knife. *He's gotta have some kind of limit... I'm not gonna lose this game!*

"Kuso..." the man paused, fists at the ready. He glared at Jounouchi. And then he resumed his attack.

"Ke~! What's wrong...your punches aren't worth anything!" Jounouchi grinned around the knife, having dodged each one again.

"Ku-kuso." The man was breathing harder. "Temee, you'd better start taking this fight seriously. With your hands in your pockets, you'll never win. I'm gonna cut you with that knife!"

Jounouchi said nothing, just grinned and kept his hands in his pockets. If it was one thing he knew, it was how to be infuriating.

The man chuckled. "Baka..."

A fist slammed up towards his gut instead of straight for his face. Jounouchi saw it coming too late, since he'd been expecting the same kind of straightforward attack, and couldn't dodge it. "Body shot!"

Jounouchi grunted as it connected, driving the breath out of him. The knife almost slipped out of his teeth before he bit down to clench against gagging.

"Owari da," the man gloated, sending a punch straight for his face. "Die!"

*Not quite!* Jounouchi glared, ducking beneath the fist. *I'm keeping my promise to my friend, you asshole!* His left hand fumbled in his pocket. He pulled the tab on the Coke he'd gotten for Yuugi.

Brown foam shot up in an agitated spray, hitting the man in the face.

"Uwah-" Blinded, he clawed at the foam.

"Heh heh," Jounouchi held the fizzing Coke in his hand, victory thrilling through him. "You were makin' fun of me with my hands in my pockets a minute ago. Now, I'll keep my promise to my friend - like this!"

He squared off and drew his arm back. The punch went flying with all his strength. "Temee, here's what your fight is worth against my promise!" The impact was solid and jarred his arm. The man's cheek gave under his punch. He felt his knuckles catch under cheekbone and the guy went flying.

Jounouchi gathered up the sennen puzzle. "Yuugi! I'm gonna return this puzzle!" He felt a glow of pride. This was one thing he could do for Yuugi.

He turned his back on the man, bleeding on the alley floor.

Jounouchi hurried back to the game center. Yuugi was waiting outside, eyes wide and anxious.

"Jounouchi-kun!" Yuugi spotted him and ran towards him. "Jounouchi-kun, I was so worried! You - ahh, you're hurt!" The boy halted in front of him, peering at the scratch on his cheek.

"It's nothing, just a tiny cut," Jounouchi shrugged, tossing the puzzle into his startled hands. "Here, I got this back for you."

"Baka!" Yuugi's violet eyes blazed up at him in a spurt of anger. "You got hurt! That guy was really ruthless, and he could've hurt you badly! You think I'm more concerned about the puzzle than I am about you?"

Jounouchi blinked. "Yu-Yuugi," he said, startled. "That's not what I meant - ahh, I was just glad to do something for you, okay?"

Yuugi's face was solemn for a moment, then he smiled. "Thank you, Jounouchi-kun," he said. He slipped the puzzle around his neck and patted the gleaming golden triangle-box. "You did this because you know it means a lot to me, didn't you?

Jounouchi stuffed his hands in his pockets and slouched. "M-maa. Eh." His cheeks turned faintly red.

"Let's go to my place, okay?" Yuugi blinked up at him. "We can fix that cut and maybe work on our homework later."

Jounouchi coughed into his hand, blushing even harder. Evil thoughts had begun running rampant through his head. "E-eh, sounds like a good idea."

"Aitetete..." Yuugi rubbed at his cheek as they began their walk down the sidewalk.

"Yuugi, you okay?" Jounouchi inquired, concerned. He hadn't thought about the bruise his friend's cheek would surely bear. Yuugi was still looking kind of scuffed.

"Heiki, heiki!" Yuugi clutched at his backpack straps. "Because you got the puzzle back for me, I feel terrific!" He beamed up at Jounouchi, and his look was admiring.

Jounouchi smiled back.

***

Yuugi wasn't Yuugi. Well, there was another Yuugi. It was the other face of Yuugi he'd glimpsed before, triggered by the dark powers of that sennen puzzle. But the other Yuugi was still Yuugi...

Ahh, mou, his head was starting to hurt!

Jounouchi leaned against the wall of the school, arms folded, a scowl engraved on his face to warn off anyone who might interrupt his weighty deliberations. At Kaiba's Death-T tournament, Yuugi had revealed his other self.

*There's another me inside my head,* Yuugi had said, eyes wide and tormented. He'd doubled up and clutched his head. *There's another me, a dark self, and I'm afraid of losing everyone...*

When the other face of Yuugi had appeared, he'd been shocked. Mostly that he'd been right, and that the glimpses of that hardened, more mature Yuugi had been a reality. His suspicions about the sennen puzzle were justified. And... he bent his head down, acknowledging the rest of what he'd felt. A thrill of desire had coursed through his veins. He already wanted Yuugi, of course, but this made him doubly attractive.

That sexy body... those confident eyes...

Jounouchi pushed away from the wall with an impatient movement. Where did he think he was going with this? He and Yuugi hadn't been alone since their first kiss. He still didn't know how Yuugi felt. And he'd never been alone with the other Yuugi...maybe he never would be. Perhaps that confident side only came out during a challenge.

Well, it was the day after the Death-T tournament. Yuugi had won, reducing Kaiba to a blank-eyed wreck. The other Yuugi was nothing if not ruthless. If there was any time to find out Yuugi's feelings - if Yuugi *had* feelings for him - it would be today.

"Ya, Yuugi!" Jounouchi lifted a hand as his friend approached.

"Oh, Jounouchi-kun!" Yuugi blinked up at him. "I didn't see you in our last class today."

"Saa," Jounouchi scratched his head. "Well, I cut it." *Had some thinking to do.*

"Jounouchi-kun," Yuugi said, looking reproachful, "it's not good to cut your classes. Especially one like math!"

"I know, I know," he sighed. He gave Yuugi a sly glance. "Does that mean you'll help me with today's homework?"

Yuugi blinked. "There's no help for it, I guess. Un! Let's go."

Jounouchi was surprised at his sudden relief. He picked up his book bag and fell into step beside his friend.

At the game shop, Yuugi's Jiichan waved 'hi' to them in passing; the shop was full of teenaged customers today wanting to check out the latest Duel Monsters booster packs, and the tables were crowded with players. Yuugi led him upstairs and shrugged his backpack off. It hit the floor by the desk with a thud.

Jounouchi tossed his somewhere near the bed. He caught his fingers twitching and shoved them into his pockets. Had Yuugi invited him here for the reason he thought, or did he really want to do homework? He glanced at his friend. The puzzle that hung at his neck was gleaming, a subtle golden shimmer. Are-?

"Saa," a husky voice breathed. Yuugi turned, his posture entirely different - more relaxed, the confidence of the other face of Yuugi that he remembered. "Did you want something, Jounouchi-kun?" There was a slight, teasing smile on his subtly altered face.

Ho? The other face of Yuugi...it was him!

Confronted now with what he'd wanted, Jounouchi didn't know what to do. "Ahh...well...that is..." He backed up, scratching his head, and the edge of the bed caught the back of his knees. He tumbled down to the spread and found himself blinking at Yuugi, on a level with his eyes.

Yuugi approached him with a soft tread, still smiling. "Saa...where did we leave off, Jounouchi-kun? Ah, sou ka... I haven't forgotten. It was here, wasn't it?" Fingers touched the side of his face. That fiery gaze grew closer, then lids fell shut and Jounouchi closed his own eyes. Yuugi's lips pressed against his.

The kiss was soft at first. Then Jounouchi tilted his head up and their lips rubbed together and a flash of excitement filled him. He reached up, fingers trailing along Yuugi's neck and the boy shivered, stepping closer, mouth fastening on Jounouchi's lower lip. He sucked softly and Jounouchi groaned.

"Dou da?" Yuugi inquired, voice husky, his hands still pressed to Jounouchi's face.

"Sugee," Jounouchi breathed. He looked at Yuugi, curling his fingers on the back of the boy's neck. He was stricken suddenly. This wasn't the Yuugi that he knew. "Is this...okay?"

"Of course it is," Yuugi answered, smiling faintly. "I kissed you first, remember?"

"This time," Jounouchi said, uncurling his fingers. "I mean, is it okay with... Yuugi."

Yuugi's eyes glinted. "I *am* Yuugi, even if I'm the other face of Yuugi."

Jounouchi flushed. "I'm sorry. It's just... I wondered if you felt that way. I mean, you didn't say anything much about the first kiss, and then the next day, he - you - acted like nothing at all..."

"Sou ka," Yuugi interrupted. "It was because of Kaiba's tournament, Jounouchi-kun. And, well, it wasn't lack of wanting, but lack of courage."

Jounouchi looked at him appraisingly. "And this side of you has courage."

"Oh, yes," Yuugi assured him, fiery eyes glinting. "Facing Kaiba was nothing. It takes the most courage to face the one you care for."

He felt like he could hardly breathe. Yuugi... he'd said 'suki,' hadn't he? In the strongest possible terms. "So you do?"

Yuugi nodded, moving closer to where Jounouchi sat on the bed. His hand touched Jounouchi's cheek again, and his eyes were appraising, full of desire. Yuugi wanted him. He did! Suddenly Jounouchi didn't know what to do, where to put his hands, how to respond... Yuugi stood between his legs, head topping Jounouchi's by a few inches. His friend was short, but this put them on a level. Hesitantly, he put his hands on Yuugi's waist.

"Saa," Yuugi said, molten eyes half-veiled, then he spoke in English. "Kiss me."

Jounouchi smiled, then tilted his head up and took Yuugi's mouth again. Unlike the first fumbling, clumsy attempt of theirs, this time lips meshed and pressed with a silken, exciting friction. Yuugi got ahold of his bottom lip again and Jounouchi's fingers tightened on his waist, pulling him closer. His mouth moved under Yuugi's demanding grasp and a noise escaped him. His tongue reached up involuntarily and ran over Yuugi's upper lip. The boy gasped, releasing his bottom lip and their tongues touched, tentative and full of need.

Excitedly absorbed by this new sensation, Jounouchi pressed his tongue to Yuugi's, slipped it into the other boy's mouth, and tasted him deeply. Yuugi crowded closer to him, hands clutching at the shoulders of his uniform jacket. His mouth was pliant, tongue meeting Jounouchi's with equal need.

Then he felt it. Yuugi's knee nudged between his legs, pressing against him, a gentle stimulation against the growing bulge in his pants.

He gasped, pulling his mouth away. "Yuugi!"

Yuugi gave him a somewhat wicked grin. "Yes?"

"Your knee-"

"Ah, gomen, gomen." Yuugi moved even closer, brushed a warm, wet kiss over his ear. "You'd rather it was my hand?" And fingers skipped up Jounouchi's thigh.

"Yuugi!" he yelped, eyes wide. Yuugi's mouth sealed on his again. Jounouchi decided indistinctly that this wasn't so bad, as Yuugi's fingers stroked his thigh and their tongues tangled. His hardening cock throbbed against Yuugi's knee. That, at least, knew what it wanted.

"Well," Yuugi breathed, pulling back slightly. Their faces were still close enough to kiss. "What do you want, Jounouchi-kun?"

Jounouchi let his hands roam from Yuugi's waist down to the tight rear of Yuugi's uniform pants, cupping the rounded little buttocks. His gaze was forthright. "I've been wanting you for a long time, Yuugi," he said honestly. "I do... I want to go to 'C' with you, but I'll take what you're willing to give."

Yuugi regarded him solemnly for a moment, burgundy eyes serious under the fringe of golden bangs. Then a brief smile lightened up his expression. "It's what I want, too, Jounouchi-kun," he said, leaning forward, rubbing his mouth against the corner of Jounouchi's. He looked at him directly again. "And the Yuugi within me, as well."

He was relieved to hear of it. There *were* two Yuugis, although they were the same, and the other Yuugi was his sweet, mostly innocent friend. He didn't want to do anything that *all* of Yuugi wouldn't want. "Can he - can the other Yuugi - I mean, is he..." Jounouchi gulped, acutely aware of the fact that his hands were on his friend's ass.

"Ah," Yuugi's mouth quirked up, as if he were trying not to laugh. "No, Jounouchi-kun. I don't think he's quite ready for this level of our relationship." He leaned in, fingers trailing closer to Jounouchi's groin, mouth achingly close to his lips.

"But you are," Jounouchi said, moving his head fractionally, bringing his mouth that much closer.

"I am," the other Yuugi confirmed, lips brushing Jounouchi's as he spoke.

"All right, then," Jounouchi nodded, and rubbed his lips against Yuugi's. Their mouths met decisively.

A wave of heat ran through him, like standing in warm sunlight. He pulled Yuugi closer, hands exploring the cloth-covered cleft as their tongues touched again and again. It was everything he'd wanted. Yuugi's lips were sweet but masculine. When their lips parted, Jounouchi pulled him closer and kissed his throat.

"Ahh..." Yuugi's fingers had reached his groin and it sent an explosion of warmth through his belly. Jounouchi bit down, marking up the flesh a little, pulling back at Yuugi's involuntary start. "I'm sorry...I..."

"Don't be," Yuugi said, hands going to the front of his jacket. Gracefully he unbuttoned it and shrugged it off. Beneath, he wore his usual sleeveless leather top with the buckles.

"Eheh..." This sight invariably made Jounouchi drool. He flexed his fingers and realized again that he was clasping Yuugi's buttocks. Oh, nice...

Yuugi gave him a slight, teasing smile. "You like this?" He let the hands draw him in close again and they shared another kiss, Yuugi's lips parting under Jounouchi's quick-kindled urgency. Jounouchi slid his hands up the leather. This was some fantasy. He just knew he'd wake up any second now in soiled sheets, with Yuugi's name on his lips. No, he was really doing it...his mouth was locked with Yuugi's, and his fingers were undoing the buckles on his shirt...

Uh, trying to. Jounouchi came up for air. "Hey, Yuugi," he said, distracted by the moist lips moving over his skin, traveling up his jawline. "Yuugi, I can't get your shirt undone."

"A-aa..." Yuugi sounded distracted, too. His fingers had been working up Jounouchi's shirt and as he pulled away, Jounouchi discovered his uniform shirt was completely open in front. Fast work. His face was flushed, his eyes heavy-lidded, and his lips were moist from their kissing.

Irresistible. Jounouchi reached up and kissed him again. Fingers entangled with his own and he felt buckles parting under their hands. Then bare skin. Jounouchi pushed his tongue into the smaller boy's mouth, rolling a nipple under his fingers, getting excited at the touch and the taste of Yuugi and feeling a hand cup his hardness again.

"Yuugi," he murmured, exploring the smooth skin beneath his hands. He pressed his mouth to a nipple. Yuugi released a soft, sighing noise and his nimble fingers undid his zipper. It was a shock when cool fingers wrapped around his shaft, pulling him free, skipping gently up and down. "Yuugi!"

"Jounouchi-kun...bed..." Yuugi managed, throaty and urgent. It was strange to see this Yuugi so flustered, deprived of his typical calm control. Jounouchi reached for him again but he was pulling away, dropping his shirt to the ground, giving him an inscrutable smile.

The words registered. "Aa, bed," Jounouchi agreed, leaning back on his elbows.

Yuugi bent and tugged Jounouchi's pants off all the way. His face turned bright red. "Yu-Yuugi!" he exclaimed, astonished at his little friend's directness again. But this was the other Yuugi, and of course he wouldn't falter at things like that. He lifted himself up, sprawling back on the bed.

"Yuugi," Jounouchi patted the bed beside him. He had the feeling they were on the brink of something; that things would change irrevocably and that they already had. He blinked at his gorgeous friend, wearing only uniform pants now, evidence of desire pushing up plainly in front. He couldn't help it. He flushed again.

"Something wrong, Jounouchi-kun?" Yuugi asked him, prowling onto the bed, a lithe feline with molten eyes fixed on him.

"Maa..." Jounouchi rubbed his head, cheeks still hot. "This changes everything, naa, Yuugi?"

Yuugi settled next to him on the narrow bed, reaching him with the heat of his body but leaving him untouched for now. His hand hovered over Jounouchi's belly and there was longing in his face. Jounouchi stared. His friend looked up and met his eyes. "Aa," Yuugi nodded. "If you don't want to..."

"I - I didn't say that!" Jounouchi amended hastily, pressing up against Yuugi, their bodies meeting in a line, chest down thigh and leg. He put a hand to Yuugi's shoulder and rolled over him.

"Oh!" Yuugi's eyes fogged half-shut. The lithe body arched beneath him and Jounouchi groaned, feeling the hard bulge trapped beneath him. His hips lunged and they were jolting together in unison, carried away by the force of sensation.

Jounouchi stilled, breathing hard. Yuugi looked so different like this. This passionate face, it was one only he could see. "Change isn't always bad," he said, touching Yuugi's cheek.

Those eyes opened. Yuugi turned his head, pressing lips to Jounouchi's palm. "Aa."

Their hips eased against each other. "Shall we finish?" Jounouchi said, breathless.

"What we started?" Yuugi completed for him, a smile glimmering up. Fingers curled over his bare shoulders, pushing aside his open shirt.

"Aa," Jounouchi nodded, tilting his head, kissing Yuugi softly. Slowly, with consideration, he explored his friend's mouth. The lush lips parted for him and he dipped his tongue within, as hesitant as the first time. Yuugi's tongue met his in a slow caress and, with a muffled noise, Jounouchi ground his hardness against Yuugi's again.

They both gasped, half-breaking the kiss. He plastered his lips to Yuugi's, feeling a desperate ache well up inside him, wanting to get closer no matter what. Yuugi's legs parted under him, shifting to either side of him, and now Jounouchi lay between those slim, sexy legs, pushing against Yuugi with a subtle pulse. He knew what to do, he knew where that ache wanted to go, now all he had to do was *get* there. Without hurting Yuugi, of course.

"You have something?" Jounouchi asked, tense, palming at Yuugi's chest and rubbing one tight little nipple.

"Ahem." Yuugi gave a little cough, turned his head, and flushed delicately. Amazing. He looked *exactly* like the other Yuugi would, contemplating hentai thoughts. He faced Jounouchi again and gave him a wink. "I prepared for contingencies."

Jounouchi was speechless for a moment. Then he grinned and kissed Yuugi. One turned into several. "You really have been thinking about this, haven't you?" He slipped one hand between their bodies and grabbed the waist of Yuugi's pants. They both gasped and flopped at that, bucking against each other for control, then Yuugi's fingers were teasing at his nipples and he moaned, letting his full weight rest on the smaller boy. Yuugi released a huff of breath and his eyes were closed. The hardness beneath him throbbed. Jounouchi felt a new immediate need to strip Yuugi, to make him equally naked and exposed.

He lifted himself up and studied the boy's face for a moment, until Yuugi's eyes opened. He smiled. Jounouchi gave him a smirk and hitched backwards, smoothing a hand over the sensitive skin of Yuugi's belly. He gave into impulse and tasted it and Yuugi made a small, excited noise.

"Jounouchi-kun!"

Breathing faster himself, Jounouchi confronted the belt buckle. He looked up at Yuugi. His friend's eyes were still closed. Ch-chigau...didn't this make them lovers now? Because it made them more than friends... With fingers that trembled only a little, he undid Yuugi's pants. This really did change everything.

"Ahh...haa...Jounouchi-kun!" Yuugi was biting his knuckle to keep from making too much noise.

Ahh, crap! He forgot Yuugi's Jiichan and Kaasan were downstairs!

"Yuugi...hey...your Jiichan and your mom..." Jounouchi lowered his voice, suddenly mortified. Maybe this wasn't the time and place to be doing...well, this!

"Daijoubu," Yuugi said huskily, "Mama is gone this afternoon, and Jiichan is busy with the shop. I just don't want to make too much noise, even though that feels so good..."

"Heh heh," Jounouchi grinned, shaping the heat between Yuugi's legs with one hand. "Like this?"

The soft incoherent noises coming from Yuugi's lips were driving him nuts. He wanted to do a *lot* more; his own erection was throbbing in sympathy with the rough strokes. He grabbed Yuugi's pants and underwear and peeled them away; the boy lifted his hips to assist. Now there was nothing obstructing them.

"Yuugi, can I?" With trepidation, he stroked the delicate skin at the juncture of Yuugi's thighs, seeking the hidden pucker. Yuugi seemed to flinch at that, and then he was moving. "Yu-Yuugi?"

The smaller boy - *with the hot, sexy bod*, Jounouchi smirked - sat up and reached for a drawer near the bed. He gave him a teasing sort of half-smile as he looked over his shoulder at him, pulling out a little tube.

"Sou ka." They were wearing identical wicked smiles now.

"Is this really okay?" Jounouchi asked, as he unscrewed the cap, coating his fingers. He'd done his homework. If he was going to make it any easier for Yuugi, and he wanted to, he had to...uh, prepare him, first.

"Mochiron," Yuugi replied, sprawling back onto the bed. He eased himself until he was lying down again, legs splayed to either side of Jounouchi. Unnh, gods, and what an erotic sight it was!

"Jounouchi-kun," Yuugi said, still wearing that same, sexy little smile, "do I have to reassure you again?" He trailed fingers down his torso, and his breath caught when his hand reached the juncture of his thighs. He opened one eye to see the effect.

"Yuugi!" He lunged between the slim thighs almost clumsily with desire, planting a rough kiss on one, fingers retracing the path to the delicate skin that would allow him entry. With a noise, Yuugi lapsed against the pillows. Carefully, Jounouchi pushed inside with one finger. Now *he* gasped, and felt himself throbbing painfully now that he could feel the tight warmth that waited for him.

Slow...careful... Jounouchi moved his finger, eliciting a gasp from Yuugi. As he pushed deeper, Yuugi's noises changed pitch, less pained and more aroused. To encourage him, Jounouchi grasped that hard little shaft with his free hand, and pumped. *Now* Yuugi's attention was gotten, and he even pushed his hips up in a silent invitation. Jounouchi added another finger.

After awhile, Jounouchi couldn't wait any longer. Agonized, he was rubbing against the sheets for friction. Yuugi's exquisite noises of arousal weren't helping. He wanted inside *soonest*.

"Yuugi...now...can I...Yuugi, is it okay?" Jounouchi gasped, barely coherent. He could hardly believe they were *doing* this. It. They were doing IT.

"Yes...*now*, Jounouchi-kun! Hayaku!" Yuugi urged, voice throaty.

That broke through any remaining doubts.

Jounouchi used the little tube again, this time to ease his entry. He knelt between Yuugi's splayed legs and they lifted to accommodate him. He pressed his hands to Yuugi's shoulders and watched the beautiful fogged eyes open, Yuugi's face passion-flushed.

"Now," Yuugi breathed.

Jounouchi pushed. Yuugi's face was etched sharply in distress and Jounouchi tried to go slow as fingers dug into his shoulders but finally his hips spasmed and he slid the rest of the way in to Yuugi's agonized hiss. He held still and kissed Yuugi, lips slack under his at first, then kissing him back eagerly. He groaned, feeling his cock throb. He was *inside* Yuugi.

Slow at first, he began to rock back and forth, pulling out by degrees and thrusting back inside. Yuugi gasped, clutching at Jounouchi with his legs, pulling him close and lifting up to meet him at the same time. Jounouchi lost any semblance of control. He withdrew and slammed back inside, locking them into a relentless, driving rhythm. Yuugi groaned and cooperated, clinging to him and riding out the tidal crests.

"Yuugi..." Jounouchi sighed, pushing into him with a languid give-and-take.

"Jounouchi-kun," Yuugi responded, then gasped and scratched the hell out of his shoulders. "Ahh!"

Jounouchi sped up, a corner of his mind telling him he should be gentle, it was Yuugi's first time - well, for both of them, but it was probably a LOT more painful for Yuugi - but unable to control the helpless pull Yuugi's body exerted on him. He withdrew only to be sucked back in by the heat and mesmerizing tightness.

He kissed Yuugi on the mouth, lurching forward with a surprised gasp. Streams of warmth left him in a shimmering cascade of pleasure and he seized Yuugi hard, mouth moving somewhere near the other's mouth, coming hard this time at the reality than any mere thought of this.

He came to rest slowly, aware that he was drenched with sweat and probably crushing Yuugi. Jounouchi peeled himself away, angry at himself for thoughtlessness. "Yuugi? Did you?"

Yuugi gave him an exhausted smile. "Un. I came." He wriggled. "And you're very heavy."

"Ahh, gomen, gomen!" He lifted himself off, feeling a wrench at the loss of contact; the intimacy of their joined bodies.

He *liked* making love to his best friend.

Jounouchi threw himself on the bed beside Yuugi, running a hand over the sweaty little body. Yuugi hitched closer to him, welcoming the caress. He looked at the milky fluid covering the other boy's belly and was reassured by the evidence of his pleasure, too.

"That was nice," Yuugi gave a languid little stretch. Then he made a little face. "We'll have to be better-prepared next time. If we get any more acrobatic, I'll have a hard time explaining to Mama why I wash my sheets so often." One finger dipped into the mess on his stomach.

Jounouchi grinned at the implicit promise. "Ou! Well, lemme get you a towel, at least."

"Sankyuu!"

He snagged one from Yuugi's closet, because going down the hall to the bathroom would mean putting his clothes on, and he had to clean himself off, too, before doing so. Risking a traipse into the hallway and stumbling over Yuugi's Jiichan just wasn't worth it! He picked up the towel and made use of it before shuffling back over to the bed. The other Yuugi lay quietly, regarding him with a small smile. It made Jounouchi wonder what he was thinking. He used the towel to clean Yuugi off, too, and it turned into a semi-erotic exercise as Yuugi gave him a mischievous little smile and Jounouchi prolonged the task.

"So... Yuugi, the other Yuugi, he won't remember this, right?" Jounouchi said, feeling awkward. Somehow he felt that Yuugi wasn't quite ready to deal with a sexual level added to their relationship. But this side of Yuugi *was.*

"Aa," Yuugi nodded. There was that smile again. "But I will. You do want to..."

"A-aa!" Jounouchi interrupted hastily. He ruffled a hand through Yuugi's hair, hesitating as he realized how insulting it might be to *this* more confident side of Yuugi. But the boy's expression was still open and affectionate. "Baka ne. I've been wanting this for awhile now; you think I'm gonna want to stop now?"

"Sou ka," Yuugi laughed huskily, sending shivers up his spine. Even though he was spent for now, Yuugi still had that much of an effect on him. "We feel the same way."

"Ja, then seal it with a kiss!" Jounouchi leered, leaning in close.

Yuugi laughed but lifted his face readily.

Their lips brushed slowly at first, re-learning each other's mouths, then with more force. Jounouchi pushed his tongue into the tiny opening and sealed lips parted for him like a lotus unfolding. The subtle gliding friction of mouth on mouth was enough to evoke reminiscent stirrings in Jounouchi's body but he knew he didn't have it in him for another try, tonight.

"Now..." Yuugi licked his lips and sat up, gathering dignity about him in lieu of clothing. "I think we've got barely enough time to work on our homework, before dinner."

Jounouchi grimaced but agreed. Even this other side of Yuugi was pragmatic when it came to schooling, apparently. "But only if ya put your clothes on, Yuugi! Otherwise, I can't promise that the distraction won't be too much for me."

Yuugi gave him a half-smile and gathered up his discarded clothes, then pulled fresh ones out of the closet. Garbed once more, this time in T-shirt and shorts, he turned around with a wide-eyed, slightly bewildered look.

"Ara... did I get changed that quickly?" Yuugi scratched at his head, then spotted Jounouchi in his jeans and nothing else and blushed furiously. "Jounouchi-kun, were you changing too?"

"Uhh... I... yeah! You were going to loan me a T-shirt," Jounouchi supplied, cursing mentally. He hadn't seen this coming. *Temee, mou hitori no Yuugi...* But it was an affectionate insult.

"Ahh... here!" Yuugi scrambled to find one and tossed a Dragonball-Z shirt in Jounouchi's direction, eyes partially averted.

*It's true... I don't think he IS ready for a physical relationship,* Jounouchi noted, pulling the shirt over his head. That was okay. There were two of Yuugi, but they were both Yuugi... and one of them was definitely interested in him *that* way.

"What say we get some homework done while we can, naa, Yuugi?"

"Aa!"

No matter what, Yuugi was his.

~tsuzuku~

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