Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience. <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> <html> <head> <META NAME="shs-author" CONTENT="SerenaJ"> <META NAME="shs-title" CONTENT="12 Days"> <META NAME="shs-part" CONTENT="(none)"> <META NAME="shs-universe" CONTENT="Yu-Gi-Oh FanFiction"> <META NAME="shs-summary" CONTENT="When Yami goes out of town, Seto and Joey find a way to spend their time. What's a little holiday competition? Follows 'Sow and Reap'."> <META NAME="shs-keywords" CONTENT="no sex, AU"> <title>12 Days</title> </head> <body> <table width="900" cellspacing="3"><tr><td width="200" valign="top"> <font face="Arial" size="2"> <h3>Yu-Gi-Oh<br> Fan Fiction</h3> <h3>Chapters</h3> <a href="#c01">The First Day of Christmas</a><br> <a href="#c02">The Second Day of Christmas</a><br> <a href="#c03">The Third Day of Christmas</a><br> <a href="#c04">The Fourth Day of Christmas</a><br> <a href="#c05">The Fifth Day of Christmas</a><br> <a href="#c06">The Sixth Day of Christmas</a><br> <a href="#c07">The Seventh Day of Christmas</a><br> <a href="#c08">The Eighth Day of Christmas</a><br> <a href="#c09">The Ninth Day of Christmas</a><br> <a href="#c10">The Tenth Day of Christmas</a><br> <a href="#c11">The Eleventh Day of Christmas</a><br> <a href="#c12">The Twelth Day of Christmas</a><br> <a href="#c13">The Epiphany</a><br> </font> </td><td> <font face="Arial" size="2"> <p>Title: 12 Days - Final Version</br> Author/ess: Serena J</br> Beta: Michiko</br> Genre: Holiday / Humor</br> Rating: G</br> Spoilers: None in Canon, but take place after the end of "Sow and Reap"</br> Warnings: None</br> Pairings: Seto/Joey/Atemu</br> Disclaimer: Just the words, not the folks</br> Challenge Summary: The challenge was to write a 100-word drabble starting Dec 1, using the `Word a Day' feature from Merriam Webster.</br> Story Summary: When Yami goes out of town, Seto and Joey find a way to spend their time. What's a little holiday competition? Note: Dates are the date of the word; the story takes place between December 26th and January 6th.</p> <p>- - - - - - - - - - -</p> <a name="c01" id="c01"><h3>The First Day of Christmas</h3></a> <p>Day 1 - 12-13: Woolgathering</p> <p>"Here." Joey handed Seto a wrapped gift at breakfast. "It's the First Day of Christmas. Open it."</p> <p>Inside was the picture of a dark haired man wearing a 1970's leisure suit. He was leaning against a tree with white blossoms. "What is this?"</p> <p>"It's a Partridge in a Pear Tree." Joey grinned.</p> <p>"A what?"</p> <p>"Oh come on! That's David Cassidy. Keith Partridge? The Partridge Family? Geez, TV here sucks! He's sitting in a pear blossom tree."</p> <p>"I see." Seto sipped his coffee. "Very cute; I guess you aren't woolgathering every day."</p> <p>Joey grinned and poured himself a glass of OJ.</p> <font size="1"><p>Go to Chapter: <a href="#c01">1st</a> <a href="#c02">2nd</a> <a href="#c03">3rd</a> <a href="#c04">4th</a> <a href="#c05">5th</a> <a href="#c06">6th</a> <a href="#c07">7th</a> <a href="#c08">8th</a> <a href="#c09">9th</a> <a href="#c10">10th</a> <a href="#c11">11th</a> <a href="#c12">12th</a> <a href="#c13">Epiphany</a></p></font> <a name="c02" id="c02"><h3>The Second Day of Christmas</h3></a> <p>Day 2 - 12-14: Bogus</p> <p>Joey arrived at the breakfast table with a birdcage shaped package and a kiss.</p> <p>"Your picture was quite popular yesterday." Seto admitted. "Several people at the office thought it was very clever. What's this?"</p> <p>"On the second day of Christmas,?" Joey sang, "my true love gave to me...."</p> <p>"I have no idea."</p> <p>Joey whipped the cover off what turned out to be a bamboo birdcage. Inside were two stuffed birds. "Two turtle doves." He sang loudly.</p> <p>"Dear God. Are those real?"</p> <p> "Nah; they're bogus. They look good, though."</p> <p>"Just so long as they don't make a mess on my carpet."</p> <font size="1"><p>Go to Chapter: <a href="#c01">1st</a> <a href="#c02">2nd</a> <a href="#c03">3rd</a> <a href="#c04">4th</a> <a href="#c05">5th</a> <a href="#c06">6th</a> <a href="#c07">7th</a> <a href="#c08">8th</a> <a href="#c09">9th</a> <a href="#c10">10th</a> <a href="#c11">11th</a> <a href="#c12">12th</a> <a href="#c13">Epiphany</a></p></font> <a name="c03" id="c03"><h3>The Third Day of Christmas</h3></a> <p>Day 3 - 12-15: Quincunx</p> <p>Joey woke to an odd clucking sound. He sat up and looked around his room. "What. The. Fuck?" He dragged himself downstairs and found Seto arranging a quincunx of postage stamps. "Are there chickens in my bedroom?"</p> <p>"Hens, actually." Seto casually read his Kendall. "French hens to be precise."</p> <p>"And, yeah, there were three of them." Joey grinned. "Do they have names?"</p> <p>"I've been referring to them as Burgundy, Chablis and Merlot. Those are wines my chef intends with which to prepare them.</p> <p>"Touch my chickens, and I'll roast you." Joey sat down. "I'm having fresh eggs from now on."</p> <font size="1"><p>Go to Chapter: <a href="#c01">1st</a> <a href="#c02">2nd</a> <a href="#c03">3rd</a> <a href="#c04">4th</a> <a href="#c05">5th</a> <a href="#c06">6th</a> <a href="#c07">7th</a> <a href="#c08">8th</a> <a href="#c09">9th</a> <a href="#c10">10th</a> <a href="#c11">11th</a> <a href="#c12">12th</a> <a href="#c13">Epiphany</a></p></font> <a name="c04" id="c04"><h3>The Fourth Day of Christmas</h3></a> <p>Day 4 - 12-16: Vermicular</p> <p>Seto woke to a sonic boom over head. He didn't even pause to grab a robe, but simply followed the long established security protocols.</p> <p>In the safe room, he found a security guard holding a heavy coat. "This way, sir. Sorry."</p> <p>Outside, half the staff was looking up at the sky. Joey was aiming a video camera up and filming as four SR-71 jets flew in formation over the house.</p> <p>"Coffee." Seto said to a vermicular staff member. He walked over to Joey. "Blackbirds?"</p> <p>"Yup. Turns out that's what a colly bird is."</p> <p>"How?"</p> <p>"I know a guy."</p> <p>"I see."</p> <font size="1"><p>Go to Chapter: <a href="#c01">1st</a> <a href="#c02">2nd</a> <a href="#c03">3rd</a> <a href="#c04">4th</a> <a href="#c05">5th</a> <a href="#c06">6th</a> <a href="#c07">7th</a> <a href="#c08">8th</a> <a href="#c09">9th</a> <a href="#c10">10th</a> <a href="#c11">11th</a> <a href="#c12">12th</a> <a href="#c13">Epiphany</a></p></font> <a name="c05" id="c05"><h3>The Fifth Day of Christmas</h3></a> <p>Day 5 - 12-17: Philately</p> <p>Joey woke up early hoping to beat Seto to breakfast but his dark-haired lover was there, sipping coffee as usual. In front of Joey's usual seat was a very thick envelope.</p> <p> "Go on." Seto didn't even look up from his current philately project. "Open it."</p> <p>Inside was a travel iteneiry, tickets and visas. "The Golden Ring?"</p> <p>"Five of them, at least." Seto turned a page. "Yaroslavl, Vladimir, Alexandrov, Ivanovo, and Suzdal. Of, course, once we're in Russia, we can stop in more of them if you wish."</p> <p>Joey grinned and nodded. "Pretty good. But you know tomorrow is geese, right?"</p> <font size="1"><p>Go to Chapter: <a href="#c01">1st</a> <a href="#c02">2nd</a> <a href="#c03">3rd</a> <a href="#c04">4th</a> <a href="#c05">5th</a> <a href="#c06">6th</a> <a href="#c07">7th</a> <a href="#c08">8th</a> <a href="#c09">9th</a> <a href="#c10">10th</a> <a href="#c11">11th</a> <a href="#c12">12th</a> <a href="#c13">Epiphany</a></p></font> <a name="c06" id="c06"><h3>The Sixth Day of Christmas</h3></a> <p>Day 6 - 12-17: Cohesive</p> <p>Seto skipped breakfast, leaving for the office early. It had annoyed him to no end that he had been unable to obtain six actual geese - living or dead - and couldn't think of a cohesive idea to do something clever.</p> <p>His phone rang. "Coward." His American lover snickered over the line.</p> <p>"You haven't delivered your gift yet." Seto retorted. "I am not going to lose."</p> <p>The blonde laughed and hung up.</p> <p>Seto snarled as he pulled up in front of his office.</p> <p>`Laying For Charity' the sign read. Beneath it, seven members of the Honorable Order of The Blue Goose lay.</p> <font size="1"><p>Go to Chapter: <a href="#c01">1st</a> <a href="#c02">2nd</a> <a href="#c03">3rd</a> <a href="#c04">4th</a> <a href="#c05">5th</a> <a href="#c06">6th</a> <a href="#c07">7th</a> <a href="#c08">8th</a> <a href="#c09">9th</a> <a href="#c10">10th</a> <a href="#c11">11th</a> <a href="#c12">12th</a> <a href="#c13">Epiphany</a></p></font> <a name="c07" id="c07"><h3>The Seventh Day of Christmas</h3></a> <p>Day 7 - 12-19: Welter <p>The swim trunks were hanging over Joey's head when he woke. `Put these on and come down to the lake' was the entire note. He added a coat and boots and went there. <p>Seto was looking dapper in the crisp winter morn. Even from a distance, Joey could see the seven graceful swan boats floating in the water. Hianko was splashing and laughing loudly. <p>"Too damn cold to swim." He groused. <p>"Don't be such a wimp." Seto remarked, taking off his coat and diving in. "The water is heated." <p>"A heated lake?" Joey weltered a moment, then joined the fun. <font size="1"><p>Go to Chapter: <a href="#c01">1st</a> <a href="#c02">2nd</a> <a href="#c03">3rd</a> <a href="#c04">4th</a> <a href="#c05">5th</a> <a href="#c06">6th</a> <a href="#c07">7th</a> <a href="#c08">8th</a> <a href="#c09">9th</a> <a href="#c10">10th</a> <a href="#c11">11th</a> <a href="#c12">12th</a> <a href="#c13">Epiphany</a></p></font> <a name="c08" id="c08"><h3>The Eighth Day of Christmas</h3></a> <p>Day 8 - 12-20: Exemplary <p>Seto woke to find a laptop beside his bed. `Play me' a note attached read. <p>Annoyed that Joey had beaten him again, Seto was also excited to see what exemplary surprise his lover had this time. <p>"Ok, you gotta watch this privately." Joey's face grinned from the screen. "You have no idea how hard this was to get." <p>The next image was Mai. There was no sound, but she appeared to be laughing as she pulled off her top. Slowly she massaged her breasts until a jet of milk streamed out. <p>Seto arrived late for breakfast. "Was number eight Anzu?" <font size="1"><p>Go to Chapter: <a href="#c01">1st</a> <a href="#c02">2nd</a> <a href="#c03">3rd</a> <a href="#c04">4th</a> <a href="#c05">5th</a> <a href="#c06">6th</a> <a href="#c07">7th</a> <a href="#c08">8th</a> <a href="#c09">9th</a> <a href="#c10">10th</a> <a href="#c11">11th</a> <a href="#c12">12th</a> <a href="#c13">Epiphany</a></p></font> <a name="c09" id="c09"><h3>The Ninth Day of Christmas</h3></a> <p>Day 9 - 12-21: Ekphrasis <p>There were nine of them, evenly spaced down the staircase. Joey stopped to admire each one in turn. Yellow, pink, purple, green, orange, white, black, peach and red. The flowers did indeed look like ladies in fancy dresses, dancing. <p>"Seto, those are amazing!" He exclaimed as he entered the dining room. "Where did you get them?" <p>"Hawaii, Trinidad and a specialist in Aruba." He said, trying not to grin. "I had no idea how expensive a flower could be." <p>"They're ... I don't even know the words!" <p>"So you won't be writing an ekphrasis?" <p>"A what?" <p>"Nevermind, Puppy; it's irrelevant." <font size="1"><p>Go to Chapter: <a href="#c01">1st</a> <a href="#c02">2nd</a> <a href="#c03">3rd</a> <a href="#c04">4th</a> <a href="#c05">5th</a> <a href="#c06">6th</a> <a href="#c07">7th</a> <a href="#c08">8th</a> <a href="#c09">9th</a> <a href="#c10">10th</a> <a href="#c11">11th</a> <a href="#c12">12th</a> <a href="#c13">Epiphany</a></p></font> <a name="c10" id="c10"><h3>The Tenth Day of Christmas</h3></a> <p>Day 10 - 12-22: Numinous <p>Joey had been frustrated by leaping lords. He had found pictures of seven dancers who were considered `lords' but he hadn't been able to complete the set. He included three who were leaping, but were not lords and wrapped the set. <p>At the base of the stairs, a security guard waited. "This way please, Wheeler-sama." He said with numinous formality. <p>In the Ballroom, Joey found Seto and nine other men. <p>"Ah, Joey." Seto greeted him. "These gentlemen are the eldest sons of the Daimyo families. The Japanese feudal lords." <p>"I count nine." <p>"Kaiba is tenth." Seto smirked. <p>They began leaping. <font size="1"><p>Go to Chapter: <a href="#c01">1st</a> <a href="#c02">2nd</a> <a href="#c03">3rd</a> <a href="#c04">4th</a> <a href="#c05">5th</a> <a href="#c06">6th</a> <a href="#c07">7th</a> <a href="#c08">8th</a> <a href="#c09">9th</a> <a href="#c10">10th</a> <a href="#c11">11th</a> <a href="#c12">12th</a> <a href="#c13">Epiphany</a></p></font> <a name="c11" id="c11"><h3>The Eleventh Day of Christmas</h3></a> <p>Day 11 - 12-23: Supererogative <p>The wailing could be heard throughout the house. There was no mistaking the sound of a bagpipe. <p>"Dear God." Seto grumbled as he climbed out of bed. "Eleven of them. At six AM." <p>He opened the bedroom door to find a grinning, wide-awake Joey holding a steaming cup of coffee. <p>"Eleven pipers piping." He announced supererogatively. "Pretty cool, huh!" <p>"I will give you a million dollars, cash, if you make them go away." Seto took the coffee and inhaled half of it. "I'll give you two if you make them go away now." <p>"Kiss me and I'll think about it." <font size="1"><p>Go to Chapter: <a href="#c01">1st</a> <a href="#c02">2nd</a> <a href="#c03">3rd</a> <a href="#c04">4th</a> <a href="#c05">5th</a> <a href="#c06">6th</a> <a href="#c07">7th</a> <a href="#c08">8th</a> <a href="#c09">9th</a> <a href="#c10">10th</a> <a href="#c11">11th</a> <a href="#c12">12th</a> <a href="#c13">Epiphany</a></p></font> <a name="c12" id="c12"><h3>The Twelth Day of Christmas</h3></a> <p>Day 12 - 12-24: Invincible <p>"If I'm going to wake to something loud and obnoxious, I'd rather it be Japanese, loud and obnoxious." Seto said as he gestured them to begin. <p>The drummers had arrived overnight and set up while most of the household was sleeping. <p>Now, one by one, the Kyoto Drummers began and the sound was invincible. <p>Joey was downstairs a few seconds after they started. "Whoa! Cool!" <p>"I thought you'd like them." Seto nodded. <p>"My guys?" <p>"Paid at the gate and sent home." <p>Joey nodded. "Kinda loud." <p>"I had to listen to pipes all day yesterday; you can listen to drums today." <font size="1"><p>Go to Chapter: <a href="#c01">1st</a> <a href="#c02">2nd</a> <a href="#c03">3rd</a> <a href="#c04">4th</a> <a href="#c05">5th</a> <a href="#c06">6th</a> <a href="#c07">7th</a> <a href="#c08">8th</a> <a href="#c09">9th</a> <a href="#c10">10th</a> <a href="#c11">11th</a> <a href="#c12">12th</a> <a href="#c13">Epiphany</a></p></font> <a name="c13" id="c13"><h3>The Epiphany</h3></a> <p>The Epiphany <p>It was the first peaceful breakfast in weeks. Seto and Joey grinned at each other - both pleased that result had been a tie. <p>There was a commotion from the front of the house and the sound of footsteps running. <p>"I thought they were due back next week." Joey commented. Seto shrugged. <p>Auset ran in. "Papa!" She yelled, throwing herself at Joey. She kissed Seto's cheek. "Hello, Father. Wait'll you see what Dad brought home!" <p>It was a short wait. They gave each other confused looks as a crying child moved closer. Presently, Pharaoh appeared carrying an infant. <p>"It's a long story and you wouldn't believe me. Just someone tell me why there are swans on the front lawn."</p> <font size="1"><p>Go to Chapter: <a href="#c01">1st</a> <a href="#c02">2nd</a> <a href="#c03">3rd</a> <a href="#c04">4th</a> <a href="#c05">5th</a> <a href="#c06">6th</a> <a href="#c07">7th</a> <a href="#c08">8th</a> <a href="#c09">9th</a> <a href="#c10">10th</a> <a href="#c11">11th</a> <a href="#c12">12th</a> <a href="#c13">Epiphany</a></p></font> <p>* * * * * *</p> <p>Thank you for reading the whole thing. If you want to send me feedback, go here please and thank you! (The box is bigger than it looks, really.) If you prefer to rate, send me a 1 (hated it) to 5 (loved it) and thanks! <div align="center"><FORM method="post" ACTION="http://acctcgi.asstr.org/formmail.cgi"> <INPUT TYPE=TEXT NAME="comments"> <INPUT type="submit" value="Submit Feedback"> <INPUT TYPE="HIDDEN" NAME="serial_number" VALUE="VFMCIHWDEKAXLVOUDOFO"> </FORM></div> <p>Go To: <a href="fanficShotaBro.html">Yu-Gi-Oh FanFic: Shota Bro</a> * <a href="fanficsowreap.html">Yu-Gi-Oh FanFic: Sow and Reap</a> * <a href="fanfichernando.html">Yu-Gi-Oh FanFic: Hernando's Hideaway</a> * <a href="fanficlife.html">Yu-Gi-Oh FanFic: A Day in the Life</a> * <a href="index.html">Serena J's Stuff main index</a> * <a href="www.asstr.org">ASSTR Home Page</a></p> </td></tr></table> </body> </html>