Summary: It's been over ten years since Seto and Jou have separated. They now live separate lives and they've changed and grown. Yet this year Seto has prepared a Winter Gala and coincidentally Jou is assigned to provide the news coverage as a reporter of JBS. How does their reencounter affect their future? SxJ

Gala of Nostalgia

"Seto…"

His voice broke apart before he had to time to say another word. There is a burning between the two bodies, a kind of friction that they've become addicted to.

"Ah- Seto," He tried to speak once more, but he didn't know what he was trying to communicate. "Seto, please-"

The brunet seemed to understand what he was asking for. He carefully licked his ear to let him know that his wish would be granted momentarily.

But first, he teased the burning core of his body; his fingers slowly became wet and sticky as he grew speed.

"Do you forgive me?" He whispered into his ear, and there's an answer he already expected to hear. "Yes, I do- I do. So stop teasing me, you bastard."

He chuckled at the blond. He remembered how his frustration was the most arousing behavior- the most poignant-

It was the way his brown eyes would wince at the inadequate amount of satisfaction, how the body yearned to be touched, to be met and fulfilled, how he desperately needed a release, a climax-

"Seto!" He finally screamed as he entered his body. His mind went blank by the pleasure that blinded his pain. He bit his lips so that he can stop himself from cursing, a sign of lost control he did not want to reveal.

"Don't stop yourself," the brunet growled as his noticed the frustration. "Tell me how you feel. Tell me how I make you feel."

"Ah- fuck, Kaiba," The blond responded without hesitation, "fuck me hard."

"That's a good boy."

The entire room was filled with their pants and the smell of intertwined bodies. The air was so moist and the temperature was as high as their passion. Liquids and fluids were exchanged as they finished.

And lastly, the brunet left a fainting kiss on his forehead.

"Don't forget, Jounouchi," He whispered, "the way I make you feel."

"Fan-fucking-tastic," Jounouchi grumbles as he forced himself off the bed. "Way to start a week, eh, Jou?" The blond continued to scold himself as he dragged himself to the bathroom.

His dream indeed proved to be a nightmare as he studied his face. The reflection on the bathroom mirror was not kind to hide the dark circles under his eyes. It's been while for Jounouchi to remember, let alone dream about his former lover. He knew it was quite a natural phenomenon but he had stopped thinking about Kaiba Seto for years. It was alarming to think moments like this still remained in the corners of his mind. The Jounouchi he remembered then is already a completely different man. There was no way for Kaiba to be the same, either. But how can he forget the pair of cerulean eyes? How would he ever forget the way they would crave each other?

As the alarm rang the blond suddenly remembered the live recording scheduled for today and quickly washed his face in an attempt to clear his complexion. But no amount of cleanser was going to brighten the shadows under his eyes. Jounouchi winced at the familiar arrival of his headache.

Jou promised himself he will never drink wine alone ever again and crawled into the shower.

"Kaiba-san, the preparations for the Gala are ready for you to look over. The compiled list has finished filtering through the board and they've now emailed you the final proof for your approval."

The brunet nodded as he continued to code on his computer screen. "Anything else?"

"Your brother also informed me that his flight has changed to night of the Gala, due to his own preparations of his presentation."

The CEO then looked up at his secretary and the sudden vision change from a mere computer screen to an actually landscape disoriented him. He took his glasses off as his eyebrows crossed in pain. "Who is responsible for the delay?"

"A slight miscalculation he said."

"What else?"

"He just wanted me to tell you that, sir, and nothing else."

"So there is something else."

"I would also suspect it, sir."

"That imp. He's so full of shit," the brunet growled.

The secretary chuckled quietly as Seto puts his glasses back on and resumed to face his computer screen.

"He will come straight from the airport on the day of the opening night, sir."

"Fine. But the invitations went out already?"

"Yes sir, as you ordered, two weeks ago."

"Good. Go eat something, Takagaki, it's 9."

"Sir, with all due respect, you've been in the office since 8AM this morning and I have not seen you leave your office other than for …cigarettes. Do you mind joining me for a meal, sir?"

"I'm not hungry." The brunet replied curtly. "But now that you've mentioned it, I would like a cigarette. Join me."

"My pleasure, sir."

The two men exited the office out to the veranda of the 10th floor. The breeze was colder than what Kaiba had expected, but he always appreciated the smell of the winter.

"Also about the Gala sir," Takagaki added, "the media has yet to be contacted for security and privacy purposes. We plan to contact JPN approximately two nights before the actual event."

"A short notice attack." Kaiba exhaled as he nodded in approval.

"But wait," Kaiba then warned. "I don't want JPN this time. There's a man I've been meaning to repay. I promised him a news coverage years ago, I just haven't found the right event. This should suffice- contact JBS and ask for Kagerou."

"Yes sir."

"You've done well for this event, Takagaki. It's my final project as head representative of Kaiba Corporation, and I've appreciated your professionalism."

"Kaiba-san," Takagaki bows. "It has been a privilege."

"Once Mokuba takes over, things are bound to be different. I suspect things would be better for many of you since Mokuba's strengths are far greater than mine- so I doubt any conflicts between you two especially, but take care of him."

"I will do my absolute best."

"That is enough." The brunet inhaled the last of the cigarette and walked away.

"How was work?" Yugi smiled as he poured Jounouchi a cup of tea. Jounouchi slightly bowed in gratitude as he wrapped his cold hands around the steaming porcelain.

"It was so cold. Can you believe it? It's already the end of November and Christmas is right around the corner."

Yugi nodded in agreement as he sipped his tea.

"I don't know if I mentioned it, but Kaiba is having a Christmas Gala this year."

Jounouchi opened his eyes as he heard his best friend repeat his former lover's name.

"It's been so long since he's had one." Jounouchi replied as he finally found the words to say.

"I think it's been over a decade."

"That's probably true- the last time he had one was when we were still together." Jounouchi thought for a moment and Yugi watched as his friend remember a very private moment of his life.

Seto Kaiba was not exactly taboo in their relationship. When Yugi was curious, he never hesitated to ask and Jounouchi always answered without much filter. If anything, Yugi was the careful one to not overstep his boundaries in questioning the secrecy of Kaiba and Jounouchi's relationship. They dated during their prime, when Jounouchi was a world-renowned duelist and Kaiba the same, with a multi-billionaire company to run. They were young, even though they've accomplished so much, and Jounouchi has always told Yugi that they were naïve, thinking their relationship can last.

But Yugi remembered how happy Jounouchi was, even when Kaiba was hardly present in his life. Jounouchi was happy with their separate spaces, their separate goals, and their separate triumphs.

When things ended, it didn't seem like they ended badly. But Jounouchi knew it was over before Kaiba did. Jounouchi mentioned something about compromise, and how they were both too stubborn to give in. Kaiba called numerous times, in an attempt to communicate, but Jounouchi knew far too much; Jounouchi knew Kaiba wouldn't change.

And for a while Jounouchi had to search for himself. He wanted to avoid the title of a Teenage Duelist, or be afraid of being caught as Seto Kaiba's lover. He wanted to be someone of his own. He made mistakes, he stumbled for a while, but going to college was probably the biggest turning point of his life- the change that he needed.

"You might have an invitation in the mail. I received mine couple days ago."

"Maybe. I haven't checked my mailbox in so long."

"I love how you still escape responsibilities like that, Jounouchi-kun."

"It's 2014, Yugi, we need to go paperless!"

Yugi giggled as he found the right moment to ask.

"Will you go?"

"I doubt I'll even be invited. But no, I won't. You'll go and tell me all about it."

"You can come with me."

"I had to sit through a countless number of Kaiba's meetings. Trust me- they're no fun. I would go if Mokuba goes, but the kid is in America."

"You don't think Mokuba will be there for Seto-kun? Of course, he's going to be there. And he's going to ask me about you."

"Well that's when you pull out your phone and give him my number!"

"Why do I have to do it?"

"Because you're nice."

"Jounouchi-kun," Yugi frowned but Jounouchi blinked his eyes with a coy smile and Yugi couldn't help but laugh in agreement. "Fine, fine."

"Good job yesterday, Jounouchi. It's going to air next Thursday so tell your friends."

"Trust me- nobody wants to see some live coverage on nature, only grandparents." Jounouchi retorted and everyone in the office laughed as the phone rang simultaneously.

"Hello, JBS, how can I help you?" The intern picked up the phone and hardly anyone noticed the conversation taking place. "Who is calling and who is this in regard to?"

"Eh? Ah- yes, he's present, please hold on a minute."

"Who is it, Ayami?"

"Excuse me- where is Kagerou-san?"

"He's probably in the editing room. You know he doesn't like taking phone calls, just take a message."

Jounouchi noticed the flustered intern and watched him grow red. "Wait- who's calling?"

"A man named Takagaki-san, he's calling from K-Kaiba corp!"

"Ehh? Kaiba Corporation?" A crowd of them turned to the panicking intern in disbelief. "What do they want? Are you sure it's Kaiba corp? Who the hell is Takagki?" A series of unanswered questions and finally a man from the crowd answered: "Takagaki is Seto Kaiba's main secretary isn't he? He did a press conference recently."

"No way-"

"Shit, are we getting sued?

"What do they want-"

"Go get Kagerou-san, then! He's waiting!"

"What line is he on?" Jounouchi then picked up the phone.

"L-line 8." The intern looked at Jounouchi with gratitude in his eyes and put his phone down.

"JBS, Jounouchi speaking."

"Good evening, this is Kagerou and I wish to speak to Kagerou-san regarding Kaiba Corporation."

"Kagerou-san may have stepped out for a moment, is there a message I can take?"

"Yes, this is in regards to a request for a coverage-"

There was a momentary pause.

"Please continue." Jounouch replies as he took up a pen and notepad.

"Jounouchi-kun? Katsuya?"

Jounouchi dropped his pen on the floor and didn't realize his co-workers were staring at him.

"Jounouchi, it's me, Hiro."

"Takagaki… Hiro? This is a lie- how did this happen?"

Jounouchi could hear Takagaki's laugh over the phone and he's much in disbelief as Jounouchi is.

"What is happening?" Jounouchi repeated and Takagaki explained how he is now Seto Kaiba's secretary and has been for over five years.

"When I met you, you were just a manager."

"It's true, but that was already 10 years ago, my friend. You used to visit the office often, and you've stopped."

Jounouchi winced. This was already the third time this week the paroxysm of nostalgia spread his head like a stubborn migraine.

"Yes, I had to go down to Tokyo to study broadcasting."

"What do you do?"

"I'm a newscaster now. Just on small segments."

"Incredible. Then this is perfect."

"What is?"

"How would you like to cover the Gala? I'm sure you've heard about it- we invited all the famed duelists. If a duelist hosts this, he would have immeasurable knowledge about how these things matter."

"Oh god," Jounouchi rubbed his temples and his co-workers were dying of curiosity. Some of them began to whisper to put the conversation on speakerphone.

"Why us? We're just a cable channel and we're much smaller than-" His co-workers almost punched Jounouchi for sounding like he's declining an opportunity from Kaiba Corp, and some of them actually managed to throw office supplies to his direction.

"Kaiba-san specifically asked for Kagerou-san."

Hearing his name in the context of something so tangible gave him a worse headache.

"I'll let Kagerou-san know."

"Yes, and tell him that we want you, Jounouchi, for the interview. No one else. It'll be live- you've done live before?"

"Yes." Jounouchi almost lied in hopes to avoiding the responsibility.

"I'll let Kaiba-san know I've contacted Kagerou-san. Let's have dinner, Jounouchi, when are you available?"

"Friday-"

After they exchanged contact information Jounouchi hung up and explained to the crowd of eager faces of the opportunity. Some of them gave Jounouchi a hug for such network and openly began to reminiscence how Jounouchi secretly used to be their hero back in his duelist career. Of course the conversation naturally led to talking about Seto Kaiba and his legacy and Yugi Mutou, the greatest. Jounouchi couldn't help but laugh at his co-workers enthusiasm and their childhoods pouring out onto the table. Yet he couldn't help but think how for them it may have simply been their childhood memories, but for Jounouchi, Yugi, and Kaiba, it was their identity.

Author's Note: It's been a while since I've written something in so long- so this story resonates with me significantly. I needed a hobby and "Seto and Jounouchi" were always a bad habit of mine… I guess my attempt to portray a more mature depiction of the characters is really a way of me experimenting with my own maturity and growth. I abandoned my previous account and created this new alias to see what I can come up with, now that I'm older. But time can be such a subjective idea… especially when fictional characters seem so tangible to the rest of us. I would really appreciate any feedback and please let me know if the story feels dull. Thank you for reading.