Disclaimer: Guess what my name is. I'll give you a hint: it's not Kazuki Takahashi. So any questions about whether I'm the genius who created Yu-Gi-Oh should be answered, though I won't deny being a genius, after all, I discovered fanfiction a one point in my life, and that was pretty smart you have to admit…
CHAPTER 1: Pick a Subject
Joey sat in the back of the art studio, holding a sketchpad and pencil. He glanced outside the window in front of him and began to draw, stroke by stroke. This was what he did during his free period nowadays. After Battle City he had wanted to lay off Duel Monsters for a while, but he had wanted a hobby still. So he signed up for an art class on a suggestion by his sister. After one class he was hooked. Joey loved the feeling he got as his pencil slid across the paper, almost as if it were dancing. He loved to see as the lines began to form an image, loved how he could add to that image in so many ways and make it better.
"Beautiful," a voice said right into his ear, settling down right next to Joey. He didn't even look up. Seto had been coming to watch Joey for a while now, it had become part of their daily routines. Without realizing it the two teens had formed a bond beyond anything Joey could ever achieve with any of his friends and different than what Seto experienced with Mokuba.
Getting himself comfortable Seto took out a small notebook where he wrote down ideas that came to him. Sometimes it was an idea for a new product and for the next few days he'd scribble madly during this period, trying to work out the plans for its setup. Sometimes it was an idea for a story and his writing would be more leisurely, more thoughtful. Seto's writing usually depended on what Joey was drawing that day. Today he was doing the Turtle Shop and Seto was writing away about some new person with an interesting yet happy life that neither of the teenagers had been able to relate to in quite a while.
The time in the art room passed happily so both stood up regretfully once the bell rang. Joey closed the sketchbook and put the pencil back where he got it. He opened his backpack and buried the sketchbook under a giant mound of other things. Seto closed his notebook and put it in his pocket, picking up his bag a second later. He turned to leave but hesitated.
"Wheeler," Seto said.
"Yeah Kaiba?" Joey replied.
"Why don't you tell your friends about your art?" Joey was surprised. He certainly hadn't expected to care about what went on between him and the others, much less knew.
"Why don't you tell your brother about your writing?" Joey replied, sidestepping the question.
"I already have. I read it to him every so often to get his opinion," Seto said. He turned back to look at Joey. "Whether you admit it or not your have a gift, Wheeler. You should share it with other people."
"Can I quote ya on dat?" Joey said dryly. Seto smirked and walked out of the room, choosing not to answer since to answer could mean more than Joey realized.
"So, where've you been, Joey?" Yugi asked as they met outside their math class. "We've missed you at free period again.'
"Ya did?" Joey said, his gaze slipping to Yami's arm around the smaller boy's waste. Yugi blushed furiously.
"No, most of us didn't," Bakura said bluntly. "We were all too busy making out in various shaded areas of the school yard." Ryou lightly punched his dark side, shooting him a disapproving look. Bakura just smirked in reply. Joey found himself comparing Bakura's smirk to Seto's, and somehow managed to come up with a whole list of ways Seto's was superior. Inwardly Joey laughed, thinking of how everyone would react if they knew what he was thinking.
"And this is when you know you're doomed to be single," T¾ a said, theatrically sad.
"And when's dat?" Joey asked, humoring her and to take his eyes off Duke and Tristen who had conveniently forgotten they were about to go into class and had attached themselves at the lips once more.
"When all your male friends have boyfriends and you don't," T¾ a said, her eyes darting from Yami and Yugi to Ryou and Bakura to Malik and Marik to Tristen and Duke where they lingered briefly.
"I wouldn't think 'bout it too much," Joey advised. "After all, most a dem are datin' the other half of demselves. No real challenge dere."
"You wanna try it?" Yami asked. "We'll see how easy you think it's then."
"Dat's okay," Joey said grinning. "How 'bout I keep myself in one piece and date some other guy."
"Not girl?" Bakura inquired more innocently than his nature should allow.
"Guy, girl, whatever," Joey said, shrugging. "'Sides, what da ya care?" Bakura's eyes glittered and everyone sighed and walked into the classroom before the crazy tomb robber could answer.
The group headed toward their usual seats. Normally they sat Joey Yami Yugi Ryou Bakura T¾ a Tristen Duke Marik then Malik, since Bakura couldn't be trusted near either Ishtar or the pharaoh, while Joey refused to sit near Malik and Malik had to sit near Marik and T¾ a wouldn't sit near Yami since she was bitter that he loved Yugi instead of her. So the seating arrangement they had worked out was best. They all sat except for Joey. He saw Seto sitting alone in the front of the class, against the wall.
"Hey, Joey," Yugi said. "Aren't you going to sit?"
"Um, not t'day," Joey said and he went back down the isle and over to the seat next to Seto. The CEO looked up, slightly surprised though his face didn't show it. Joey put down his bag and turned to Seto, looking right into the teen's deep blue eyes. Whispers went around the class, no one bothering to make sure they weren't over heard.
"How dare he sit next to Seto!"
"That seat it sacred, reserved only for Seto's future girlfriend! Me, of course."
"Wow, he's brave."
"Have to admire a guy with guts enough to sit next to that rich asshole." Even Yugi and his friends were talking.
"Don't they hate each other?" T¾ a said blankly.
"So he already has a boyfriend," Bakura said, disappointed. "And this is his way of coming out. Damn. Now there's nothing for me to use as blackmail."
"'Kura!" Ryou exclaimed.
"What? It's true."
"I can't believe this," Yugi muttered.
"Why not aibou?" Yami said amused.
"Be-because it's Joey…and Kaiba!" his light cried.
"Didn't see that coming," Tristen said, breaking away from Duke briefly.
"Yeah," Duke agreed. "That's for sure." Then it was back to snogging. So while the entire class goggled at the pair, Joey and Seto remained oblivious.
"Ya never said if I could quote ya on dat," Joey told Seto seriously. Seto let something like a smile flash briefly across his face.
"How's this for an answer?" Seto dug into his pocket and pulled out a small card and placed it on Joey's desk. Joey picked it up and read. The front proclaimed "Kaiba Corp.'s 2nd Annual Young Artists Fundraiser for the Tokyo Children's Hospital." Joey's eyes flickered over to Seto who gave a half nod, telling Joey to flip it over.
"The most talented young artists from age 14-19 display their artwork for some of the most prominent art collectors July 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Half the money from each sale will go to the Children's Hospital while half goes to the artist. Public viewing is from 10 am until 4 pm. At 5 the bidding will begin each day."
"So," Seto said after allowing time for it to sink in. "Will you do it?" Just then, however, the teacher walked in. Hurriedly Seto mouthed "tell me after class." Joey nodded and turned to look at the teacher, his mind reeling at what a huge opportunity this was.
Yugi was normally very attentive in class, but today he just couldn't concentrate. Half the reason for that was Yami's hand rubbing various places discretely- this was an extremely pleasurable half- but the other half was much more concerning. Joey and Kaiba couldn't be dating, Joey would have told him. So something else had to be going on between the two. But what was it? Kaiba had handed Joey something. What was it? Were the two…doing drugs? But then why would they have such an exchange in plain sight? Or perhaps that did make sense. No one would look into anything concerning Kaiba; he was too popular and too powerful. Still…
Yugi shook his head slightly, trying to clear his mind. He should be paying attention, finals were fast approaching. But then again, tomorrow was Saturday and it was last period, so zoning out for once shouldn't really matter that much.
Just then the bell rang, however, stopping Yugi's internal ramblings.
"Finally," Bakura said as they all stood up. "I thought the old hag would never shut up." Malik and Marik snickered and Yami did his best to contain his own amusement.
"It'd kill you to be nice, wouldn't it 'Kura?" Ryou said, sighing
"Quite possibly," Bakura readily agreed. Ryou groaned in exasperation and grabbed his darker half, pulling him out of the room. Malik and Marik rushed after them, grinning maniacally. Tristen and Duke wandered out, oblivious to everyone else. T¾ a sighed and followed. Yugi looked over at Joey, who hadn't moved yet, shocking since he was usually the first one to leave.
"Joe-" he started to say. Yami placed a hand on his shoulder. Yugi looked over and Yami shook his head.
"Leave him be," Yami murmured, steering his light out of the room. "He doesn't need you baby sitting him." The words stung by Yugi knew them to be true so he allowed himself to be led away without a fight.
"So Wheeler," Seto said after everyone else had left. "Will you do it?"
"Ya want me t' be in your big art show?" Joey said slowly. "Why?" Seto ground his teeth together, biting back a rude reply. Why did Joey insist on making thing so difficult? Was it too hard for him to except something good without fighting it tooth and nail?
"Walk with me," Seto said. "Maybe then you'll understand why I want you in my charity event."
"Where're we goin'?" Joey asked as they exited the building, bags slung over their shoulders, jackets unbuttoned and shirts un-tucked.
"First we're going to swing by the elementary school to pick up Mokuba, then you're going to see why you should be in the show," Seto answered, setting a nice slow pace to the school. As they turned out into the sidewalk Joey was surprised to see no one gaping at Seto, no one stalking him, no one walking up to him suddenly asking for something.
"Don't dey know who ya are?" Joey asked curiously. Seto chuckled.
"They don't because they don't want to. None of these people want to see me as anything was less than completely sophisticated and clean cut," Seto explained. "I suppose if they really looked at me someone would recognize me, but I'm not really that famous, Wheeler. And my popularity had taken a nose dive sine Battle City."
"Liar," Joey said, smiling a bit. Seto grinned, actually grinned at the other boy.
"Just a little," he replied.
The elementary school was only three blocks away, but still, the walk there gave the two time to talk without fear of being overheard by preying ears cough Yugi cough and/or cough everyone else cough .
"So, Wheeler, where exactly does your sister live? The only time I've seen her was during the end of Battle City," Seto commented.
"M' parents split up when I was a kid and my mom took Serenity and moved to Kyoto," Joey said. "I got t' stay behind in Tokyo wit my dad who's never home. He's always workin', see. UP until Battle City I hadn't see er spoken t' my mother and Serenity in years. After your tournament Serenity went back t' Kyoto wit my mom."
"Oh, Seto was quiet for a moment, thinking. "That's worse than my family situation."
"Why do ya say dat?" Joey inquired. ""Least all my family's still alive."
"That's what makes it sad," Seto answered. "You're all living yet you still refuse to spend time with each other." Joey smiled sadly. That's what he always thought but could do nothing about because he never could get enough money to get over to Kyoto.
"We're here," Seto said unnecessarily. Joey looked up at his old school, grinning faintly as he recalled all the trouble he had caused throughout his seven years there, kindergarten through 6th grade. The bell rang and the older students poured out, ecstatic to escape from what they considered their prison.
"Hey, Seto!" Mokuba, a sixth grader, called spotting his brother. "And, wow, hey Joey." The younger Kaiba blinked in surprise. He knew his brother and Joey got along better than they led people to believe, but seeing them together in public, not insulting each other, was shocking nonetheless.
"Hey, Mokuba," Joey said in reply.
"So, what are you two doing?" Mokuba had to ask as the three walked away from the school yard.
"Showing Wheeler the entries so far in the charity event," Seto explained, leading the way to the subway station. Seeing Joey's surprised look as he realized their destination Seto explained. "The show's on the other side of town and the driver's got the week off, so unless you really want to walk…"
"Nah, subway's cool," Joey said. In a matter of minutes Seto had purchased their tickets and they boarded, each of the three thinking something different. Seto had his mind set on making Joey see his way while Joey was trying to think of excuses he could make to get himself out of this, he had decided he wasn't ready to show his art to the public yet.
Mokuba, however, was thinking something completely different. He was wondering what would be the best way to set up his brother and Joey, and, of course, who could be most helpful to him.
Well, this is my first Yu-Gi-Oh fanfic, so I hope you like it. I know not much has happened, but more will happen next chapter, so don't worry.
Next Chapter: Begin the Sketch
"Hello Mister Kaiba," the guard, right by the doors inside, said as the three entered. Seto stopped to be friendly; all of his employee's were treated kindly…unless they looked like they were going to pull a big five. When that happened someone usually got fired.
Please review! Remo