Zypher: Well, it's that time of month again. Good old Valentine's Day and that means another fluffy one-shot to celebrate the holidays. Just like the birthday story, this will probably become a story where chapter are added every Valentine's Day. This one-shot will make up for me forgetting about Topaz and Toben's birthday. It was two days after Jounouchi's but I still forgot about it. Anyways, here's the one-shot for you all. Enjoy.

Summary: Topaz hates Valentine's Day. Toben doesn't know squat about it. After finding out from Ryou what it was about, he will try everything he could to make it enjoyable but will it end up in a big disaster?

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Love is a Fickle Emotion

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Toben sat upon the bed, watching as Topaz paced through the room and mumbling something to himself. 'Wonder what's wrong with him.' he thought to himself before asking the same question.

"Is something wrong?"

"It's nothing." Topaz muttered before grabbing his uniform and left the room. "I hate this day of the month." Toben heard what he whispered and ears pinned forward in interest. 'Wonder why he hates it so much?' he thought before getting up as well, already dressed, which brought a shock to the other who knew Toben to be a slacker when it comes to school.

After dealing with the trial back in Egypt and Yami and Aqua refusing to enter the spirit world for they had much more to live for, which resulted in the former pharaoh and dragon lord admitting their feelings for Yugi, the gods granted his wish which also let the other spirits stay behind as well. They gained new bodies and started school and now, they were in their final year. Those last two years, many things changed. For example, Bakura and Crimson, the two who usually show nothing but anger and hatred for the pharaoh and Aqua, which they still do, admitted they felt something for Ryou and Diamond which started their relationship.

Toben still chuckled as he remembered the day. Let's just say that the day they admitted also revealed how clumsy they were. Even the equally blood lusting evil personality, Marik, admitted his feelings for Malik but in very morbid way. He was still wondering how long it would be before they replaced all the burnt grass in Domino park and how long Kaiba would still be ranting over the destruction of one of his helicopters. Lucky, no one was hurt in that incident.

Malik looked up when he heard him come downstairs and smiled. "Hey, Toben. For once, you're actually up early. Ishizu would be proud to see that." he said. "Yeah, Toben knows she would. She'll flip though if she ever sees Toben doing any chores that don't involve her chasing Toben into doing them. Always remind Toben that when she wields a broom, wear a helmet." he said, rubbing the spot where a huge bruise from the last time used to be. Malik laughed before nodding. He placed a plate of eggs and bacon in front of Toben and he started to eat. "So, where's Marik?"

"Surprisingly, he left early but Toben don't know why." Malik hummed, making another plate for Topaz. "Odd. Must be something about today." Toben said and Malik perked up as he looked to the calendar. "Oh no. Not today of all days. Got to go!" Malik said in a rush as he grabbed his back and dashed out the kitchen and front door. "Now I wonder what's up with him." he whispered, finishing up his plate and deposited it into the sink before looking at the calendar. "February 14th, Valentine's Day..." he read and was silent for a moment.

"What the hell is Valentine's Day?"

"A holiday you don't need to worry about." Topaz muttered as he walked in and sat down at the table, eating his breakfast silently. "Why? What it's about?" Toben asked as he sidled up to Topaz. "Nothing." Topaz grumbled as he took another bite of his bacon. "Come on, tell me. You know I'm still getting used to the times." Toben said. "I know but seriously, this isn't a holiday you need to worry about. But if you want to know so much about it, wait til we get to school." Topaz said with finality as he stood up, tossed his plate into the sink and grabbed his bag. "Let's go." Toben nodded, still confused as they left the house, locking the door behind them and started on their way to school.

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"Ugh! So much pink! I hate pink!" Jounouchi grumbled as he along with Yugi, Yami, Ryou, Aqua and Diamond stood in the halls, close to their lockers, which were conveniently placed next to one another, to avoid the hustle and bustle of students reaching into lockers to grab books, place gifts in their for their admirers and going crazy over the holiday filled with love. "I know you hate the color, Jounouchi, but you know how it is on Valentine's Day." Yugi said, eyes sparkling with happiness as he held Yami's hand and let Aqua's head rest on his shoulder for two things. One, because of everything he and Aqua did for Yugi for the holiday, which included a nice, quiet dinner at a nice restaurant in downtown Domino and buying a very expensive necklace that Yugi loved.

The second was to keep grubby girls from giving them gifts and show that they were taken. Ryou and Diamond were lucky that Bakura and Crimson weren't in school just yet. For one, they were sure the two of them would cause mayhem by burning down the decorations since, just like Jounouchi, they despise the color pink. The only form of pink they could tolerate would be the girls' uniform since its mandatory.

Topaz and Toben entered the building five minutes before the first bell was to ring and Toben blanched at the sight of so much pink. But he was more intrigued with the hearts and the silhouettes of Cupid handing about the halls. "Well, there's the gang. You want an explanation, ask them. I'm getting my books and heading to class." Topaz said as he started for his locker and Toben watched him go. He heard a groan as Topaz opened his locker only to be flooded with various cards, candy and gifts from various female admirers.

He walked over to the other who looked up and greeted him. "Yeah, hi minna. Now Toben gots a question for you." he spoke and Aqua raised a hand to halt him. "I think I know. You have no clue what Valentine's Day is and you want to know about it and why Topaz hates it so much." he said, hitting the nail on the head. Toben nodded and Ryou took over.

"Well, Valentine's Day is a day of showing someone that you love them very much. Mostly, you can show them with something meaningful like cards, flowers and candy but not too much. In the case of the students around here, they overlook that factor and stuff the admired one's desk and locker with a load of stuff not really needed. I know because I've been through it for my first Valentine's Day after Diamond and I were transferred here. Many, mostly girls, use this day to show that they really love a person and if they comply, most, which are the boys, always return the feeling on White Day."

Toben nodded as he listened to Ryou's explanation then got an idea. He had yet to admit it to anyone, not even Marik, but he actually harbored feelings for the mild-mannered hikari but even he could get a little shy with admitting his feelings for Topaz. He tried to do so for his birthday but that didn't turn out well. "But that goes into my second question. Why does Topaz hate it so much?" he asked. "From what I learned from Malik, he hates it because he could never find someone that he could truly love." Ryou said.

"I can only guess that all of us could really hate this holiday for a time before we gained one of the Sennen items and found love with the spirits within, or in Malik's case, the second personality that we all feared until he changed his ways after his return." Yugi stated, smiling brightly as Aqua gave him a nuzzle, causing the girl that tried to sneak towards them to moan in disappointment and leave. "And this was in the case after everything that happened with the Ceremonial Battle and all?" he asked again and they nodded.

"Yeah. His first Valentine's Day wasn't great. I can't come close to sugar-coating how bad it was but let say that the gifts he gotten were trashed as soon as he got them. Honestly, I believe that he already has someone in his heart but doesn't admit it in fear of rejection and would hate this holiday more because he can't step out and say it to the person he loves." Jounouchi explained and Toben got a thought. He knew it would possibly be a big risk for he doesn't know himself if he could be the one Topaz is pining for but there's always room for a first try.

"Ok. Toben thinks Toben got the basics and Toben thinks Toben want to help out Topaz. Even Toben don't know if he'll even like Toben that way but Toben won't mind trying to help him out. What are the best things Toben could do than to make him happy at least?" They nodded and started giving the other suggestions and once he claimed enough of them, he ditched the school.

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Topaz sighed, tapping his pencil idly on the desk as he looked out the window. The constant drone of the teacher nearly put everyone to sleep and he put his mind to something more time consuming, which led to him staring out the window. A part of his mind worked over the fact that Toben didn't come into class and it started to worry him since he knew that even he wouldn't risk skipping out of school for anything for fear of what Ishizu could do if she found out. 'Maybe what he learned from Ryou and the gang gave him an initiative to find a gift for someone for Valentine's Day.' he thought then put his mind to work on what Toben could possibly get for someone and who he would give that gift to.

'I worry what he could get. Hopefully not a live heart cause I swear, that's what Marik's gift will be based off one of these days.' Topaz thought then snickered at the thought of Malik's face if he opened a box to the sight of a cow or pig's heart. 'I'll think he'll be traumatized after that if it happens which I'm taking a big gamble that it will.' he thought once more before looking out the window to the passing clouds, hoping for school to end quickly as well as the day.

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Toben, after scouring shop after shop for the perfect gifts, he walked back into school without being caught by any hall monitors, roaming teachers or the principal with his arms laden with his gifts. He walked over to Topaz's locker and deftly turned the combination, opening it without a word and placed the gifts neatly within. 'Hopefully he won't toss these out, thinking that they were from some random admirer.' he thought, shutting the locker again before heading to his fifth period class.

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During lunch, the group headed to their locker to place away their books and get the next set for their last few classes. What they weren't expecting was the Seto Kaiba to be standing by Jounouchi's locker, a small box wrapped in silver wrapping paper with a blue ribbon around it. "What are ya doin' here, Moneybags?" Jounouchi growled, stepping forward. "Decided it's time to ditch the insults and just come out and say it. Jounouchi, for as long as I've known you you've been a pain in my side but you soon grew on me. Usually, I'm not one to admit this but I love you, pup." he said.

Jounouchi gaped for a moment before shaking his head. "Nah! That isn't true! This is nothin' but some joke ta possibly get all yer fangirls off yer tail and insult me at the same time." Jounouchi growled. Kaiba tsked softly as he walked over to Jounouchi, getting a firm grip on his arm and looked into amber eyes. "I kid you not, pup. Besides, if I was kidding, would I dare do this?" He leaned down and placed a kiss softly upon plaint lips and Jounouchi's eyes widened while not far from them, the squeals of disappointed girls hounding Kaiba. He broke the contact and let go of Jounouchi who stumbled where he stood before looking to him.

"Ok, you're not kidding and now, I don't know whether ta kiss ya again or punch ya in the face fer kissing me but it all comes down ta how truthful you are. By the feelin' of that kiss, what ya say is true." Jounouchi murmured, a sheepish grin on his face. Kaiba smirked and held up the present. "So, we're steady now cause a certain master would like to take his puppy home." Jounouchi blushed at the now affectionate nickname and nodded. "Yeah, we're now an official couple but keep it on the down low with the names."

"Alright, puppy." Kaiba teased, handing Jounouchi his gift before taking his arm again and led him out to the awaiting limo. "Well, out of everything to happen between those two, that the most shocking twist I would ever see." Diamond said and they all nodded in agreement as they went to open their lockers. Topaz gasped audibly and they turned to look at him. "What's wrong?" Aqua asked. "Another admirer." Topaz muttered as he took out the bouquet of red roses, an envelope and a small box of what would seem to be chocolates.

"Well, this person seems to not be overshadowing you with tons of gifts. Just a simple bouquet of red roses to show his or her love, an envelope possibly containing his or her innermost feelings and some chocolates that are hopefully caramel filled and not those cheesy mystery chocolates that can possibly have everything from coconut to toothpaste in the center." Aqua murmured and Yugi chuckled, remembering the former dragon lord and former pharaoh's experience with the same exact thing. Yugi knew the two had a big sweet tooth but dealing with something as horrid as mystery chocolates and tasteless candy hearts can really put someone down.

But of course now, they always had a tasty treat with them 24/7 so they got over it soon enough.

"He does have a point though. Why don't you finally give this person a try? You never know, you may be surprised at who it is." Ryou said and Topaz shrugged. "I guess it can get any worse since it was only three compared to the tons of crap I get from over extravagant fangirls." he said as he placed the roses and box into his locker and opened the envelope. He took out the card along with a coupon and scanned through it, lavender eyes widened more and more before he came to the end of it. He was silent and Yami was the first to break it.

"So, who was it from?" he asked. "Someone that even I wouldn't expect." Topaz whispered, closing his locker. "Oh boy, please tell me it wasn't the slut, Anzu? By all means say it wasn't her." Aqua muttered and Topaz denied that quickly. "Oh hell no! If this was from her, I would've vomited first before tossing everything into the garbage and sanitizing my entire locker." he said before dashing off, telling that he would meet up with them later. Malik walked up a few seconds after Topaz ran off and looked to them. "So, did I miss anything?"

"If you call Kaiba admitting he loves Jounouchi and Topaz taking a liking to whoever gave him the roses, chocolate and a letter with some sort of coupon that we have no idea what it is for exciting, then nope, you haven't missed much." Diamond said.

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Topaz left the building into the courtyard and looked through the mass of students that were out sharing a quiet lunch with their lovers and soon spotted the wheat-blond fur of Toben leaning against the tree. He ran over and stopped just mere meters behind him and called out to him. He turned, wine red eyes glinting with mischief. "Yeah, Topaz?" he questioned.

"Did you really do all of this for me?" Topaz asked, holding up the letter and coupon that was for a dinner for two at an Egyptian themed restaurant that was constructed a while back in a quiet area of Domino. "But of course. Ryou told me how you felt and Toben decided it would be nice of Toben to make this Valentine's Day enjoyable for you. It doesn't have to mean anything in the loving sense if you don't want it to; just think of it as an outing among close friends." Toben said and Topaz nodded, looking down to the coupon. He was silent for a moment before looking up to Toben shyly.

"I...I don't want it to be a friendly outing. I...I want it to be a...a date." he whispered and Toben's ears flicked slightly. "Are you sure? You don't have to put much thought in it." he said and Topaz shook his head. "No...I know what I want. I just never admitted it before. Call it being a chicken but I just couldn't admit that I really, really like you. Hell, more like telling you that I loved you. Marik made it seem so simple but when I go to tell you, my will just seems to slip from me and I don't tell you. But you did all this for me and I knew that its best I tell you now or never tell you at all." Topaz explained, smiling up to the other who smiled back.

"Glad you finally admitted it and Toben returns your love with Toben's own. Don't think you were the only one too shy to say anything. Toben was too but after learning about this holiday and what Toben could do for you, Toben thought of this as my chance to show that Toben loves you, too." Toben said and Topaz smiled and he ran into the other's arms, placing a soft kiss upon his cheek. "Thanks so much, Toben. My loving koi."

"No problem, love."

Things were silent between them before Topaz spoke up.

"So, where did you get the money for the coupon?"

"Used some money from Ishizu."

"...Does she even know you took some?"

"...No..."

Snicker. "You are so screwed when we get home."

Groan. "Don't remind me. Mind you, Toben's risking my tail to make you happy."

"And it works. I still love you even if you gain a lot of bruises."

"Yeah. Hopefully you'll be Toben's nurse and nurse Toben back to perfect health." Toben whispered with a snicker, kissing the blond strands upon Topaz's head. "Maybe, as long as you don't convince me to wear some nurse outfit while your stranded in bed." Toben laughed. "But where's the fun in that?" Topaz laughed, giving him a small punch before they decided to meet with the others and get some lunch before the period was over.

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Zypher: There, a nice long one-shot Valentine's Day story to make up for my forgetfulness of Topaz and Toben's birthday last month. Man, this is the result of listening to Grief and Sorrow from my Naruto soundtrack while writing the little admitting portion between Topaz and Toben. It sounds so dang sappy.

But what makes up for that is a little humor, a little Anzu bashing, and a little fluff. Also, the mystery chocolate tidbit was an inside joke my friend told me once. Still laugh about that to this day. As for the others missing from the group, let's just say Kaiser is with Ruby for the day, Marik is out hunting for a butcher shop that sells raw hearts, and both Bakura and Crimson are ditching school to cause havoc somewhere before going to give Ryou and Diamond their Valentine's Day gift. As for what happens with Topaz and Toben, I'll leave that to your imaginations. Hoped you enjoyed and I'll see you in another chapter of another story.