Title: Puppy Love
Fandom: Yu-Gi-Oh!
Characters: Jounouchi Katsuya & Kaiba Seto
Summary: Kaiba pisses off Ishizu enough for her to do something drastic to him – and to finally teach him a lesson about love and life. What happens when a little kitten too proud for its own good is rescued by a lovable mutt? POST CANON Jou/Kaiba.

Also, this fic has already been planned out and the majority of it, been written. I just need to edit a few parts. I've never posted a long fic before. I only ever write one-shots. So of course, reviews would be appreciated to see how I'm doing in this case. Please follow the story so you're notified when I post up a new chapter!

CHAPTER ONE

"Despite witnessing Atem pass on and the incredible adventures you shared, despite seeing the magic of the Millennium Items, experiencing the magic of the Millennium Rod that once belonged to you – " Ishizu broke off, taking a deep breath. "You still lie to yourself."

Kaiba Seto despised having his time wasted. Especially by people who spouted such idiotic nonsense. He'd heard this mystical, magical mumbo-jumbo crap more times than he'd cared to count. Besides, that part of his life – running with a bunch of wannabe heroes led by a pompous 'Pharaoh' who played Duel Monsters to save the world from whatever threat his pathetic mind had conjured up – was over now. His past had no place in his present and certainly no place in the future.

And yet … Here was Ishizu; an unwelcome face from his past trying to force this bullshit down his throat. Again.

Kaiba didn't make a habit of wandering into town during his lunch break. More often than not, he skipped his break entirely in favour of getting things down that much faster. But today, he'd felt restless, unable to concentrate on the colourful graphs and endless rows of figures displayed on his computer screen. His plush leather chair had become uncomfortable, his large opulent office far too small and he'd found himself unable to breathe for a moment, suddenly desperate to escape the confines of his building.

For once, he'd walked without purpose – no destination in mind, allowing the cool breeze to clear his head. He hadn't even minded the lunch time crowds, falling into an easy rhythm as he walked. It was only when he'd stopped to peer into a window of an antique bookshop – his gaze being drawn to an ancient tome with a magnificent dragon depicted on the cover – that he suddenly felt the presence of another human being and one that was dangerously close to invading his personal space. Whatever semblance of peace he'd felt was swiftly dispelled, especially when he turned around to stare into the knowing eyes of Ishizu Ishtar.

Ishizu – along with her crazed brother – was somebody Kaiba preferred to forget. No, not simply forget. He'd wanted to wipe all knowledge of them and their so-called drama from his mind. He'd succeeded shortly after Atem's passing with the aid of some very expensive alcohol and long endless nights. However, seeing Ishizu in Domino City on what was supposed to be just another day had bought the memories – that unwanted knowledge – screaming back. With a vengeance.

She'd been polite, courteous in her exchange with him. Kaiba had been austere, sparing no more words than strictly necessary. And even with that attitude of his, she had still invited him for a cup of coffee.

He hadn't been entirely certain why he'd even accepted the invitation. He should have turned his back on her there and then, given her one last sneer and wished her a good life before making his way back to Kaiba Crop, back to where he belonged, but no. Something he couldn't quite explain, something inexplicable had caused him to accept her invitation and follow her to a nearby coffee shop.

They had chatted – or rather, Ishizu had chatted while Kaiba had responded with one word answers – about the usual things. Life in Egypt, their siblings, the weather, Kaiba Corp … After a considerable amount of time had passed, Kaiba had put down his coffee cup, ready to make his excuse and leave. Bumping into Ishizu had been more … jarring than he'd cared to admit and he'd been looking forward to putting the unfortunate incident behind him as soon as possible.

But then somehow, the talk had turned to him – Atem. Wasn't anybody going to let his memory rest? He was gone, had been gone for five years now. What was the point of talking about him? Why bring up the past? Especially to someone like Kaiba who had been trying to bury it as hard as he could. Everything surrounding that period of his life was bittersweet to say the least. Surely, she could see how … opposed he'd been to discuss it? And yet, she continued – polite but infuriatingly insistent.

"You lie to yourself, Kaiba." Ishizu repeated. "You always have."

"Enough." His voice was low, dangerous. His hard gaze was fixed upon her, the unspoken warning in their depths, dark like an ominous cloud. "I don't want to hear another word, got it?"

Ishizu held his gaze, continuing as though he hadn't even spoken. "Does it frighten you? The power of magic, the idea of Fate, being powerless in the face of Destiny? Is that why you choose to ignore what had so blatantly entwined around you and the Pharaoh?"

Kaiba clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white with the strain. Had the coffee cup still been in his hand, it would have cracked with the force of his grip. Ishizu had some nerve. There were grown men out there, who had cowered in his presence, in the face of his rage and yet this woman dared to sit there so calmly and taunt him?

Clearly, she had underestimated his power, his prestige. Nobody talked to Kaiba Seto in such a way and lived to not regret it.

"Ishizu – I'm only going to say this once so I want you to listen up." Despite the sheer hatred, the revulsion he felt, his voice was strangely calm, if not a tad acidic. "I have had more than a lifetime's worth of bullshit from you and your kind." Marik, Rishid, Bakura, Yugi … They were all as bad as each other. "I couldn't care less about any of this shit you seem hell-bent on spouting. Tell it to someone who gives a damn."

Kaiba got to his feet, picking up his briefcase – his movements graceful as ever despite the anger simmering just below the surface. "I have a company to run. Have fun with your little fairy tales."

And with that, he turned on his heel, ready to exit the coffee shop. However, Ishizu's voice reached him before he could reach the door.

"Kaiba, wait." Her voice was commanding, strong. He found himself pausing due to morbid curiosity alone. "Although the Millennium Items may be gone," Ishizu lightly touched her own neck, fingers skimming bare skin rather than the Millennium Necklace she'd worn for years. "Even though, I am without my necklace, there is still magic here! I grew up in the darkness of the tombs. It still exists within me and I will show you how very real it could be, Kaiba Seto. You will come to regret those words of yours. And it time, you shall see."

Her words were without threat, without malice or anger however they possessed a prophetical ring. Ishizu smiled to herself as she gazed at the CEO, who had been standing there arrogantly with his back to her, one hand on the door of the coffee shop, ready to push it open at any given moment.

"If you wish to recover the part of you that is lost, you need only give. See without looking, listen without hearing and love …" Ishizu paused, before whispering the next words. "Love is your only hope."

A few moments of silence passed before Kaiba snorted in derision.

"Whatever. You've wasted enough of my time." He threw back over his shoulder – and then, muttered snidely. "Bitch."

With one fluid motion, the door was flung open and Kaiba stepped outside, turning up the collar of his midnight-blue trench coat before walking away.

Inside the coffee shop, Ishizu hadn't moved from her seat. Her coffee cup was poised in front of her smiling mouth.

You'll see, Kaiba Seto …

I have plans for this story! Please read, review and follow!