A/N: This is my first attempt at multi-chapter Yu-Gi-Oh fanfic, so I took a stab at it and decided to write Puppyshipping. I've tried hard to keep everyone in character, but it's damn near impossible to write fluff without Seto being OOC. XD Anyway, enjoy! ~

~ I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh. ~

Chapter One – Wanted, One Housekeeper

Seto Kaiba gave an irritable sigh as he closed his laptop shut. It had been a long, tiresome day in the office, and he had been looking foreword to coming home and spending some quality time with his beloved little brother. Unfortunately, when he had just settled down to watch a movie with said brother, the CEO received an urgent call from his frantic secretary, and his evening at home went down the toilet.

One headache, three strong coffees and several hours later, he had managed to somewhat solve the problem. His ideal Friday evening hadn't exactly gotten off to a good start – even Seto Kaiba liked to sit back and relax at times. He may be a workaholic by nature, but he was also human, and for all his industrious efforts, he felt like he deserved a break every once in a while, however small it may be.

He gave a tired sigh and leaned back in his home office chair. How many hours of sleep did he get last night? Four? Five? He was literally running on empty, and he wasn't exactly sure how much longer he'd last like this. A headache that had formed several hours ago was now pounding worse than ever. Pressing a warm hand to his forehead, the brunet closed his eyes, hoping that if he lay still enough it would just disappear. He had been sitting there like that for only a few minutes when the door opened. Kaiba didn't need to look to know it was Mokuba, and he could sense the younger boy wasn't happy. As he walked over to the desk, Kaiba opened his eyes and sat up a little straighter in his chair.

Mokuba stopped in front of his desk and sighed with irritation. "It's one am."

The CEO, taking it as his cue to leave his office, stood up and stretched. "I know," he replied curtly.

The raven haired teen rolled his eyes. "Seto, I'm not stupid," He folded his arms over his chest and gave a quick glance over of the CEO, taking note of his tired eyes and the pallor of his skin. "You're not sleeping enough," he said finally, eyes pleadingly looking into Seto's blue orbs.

The older Kaiba brother allowed himself a rare chuckle. "Mokuba, you sound like a scolding parent. I'm fine." He walked around his desk and placed a hand on his brother's thin shoulder. "I know you're worried, but-"

"We need a housekeeper."

Kaiba blinked, not showing his surprise. "A what?" Where the hell did that come from? Knowing Mokuba, this was the beginning of one of his typical master plans, which – strangely enough – he always gotten his way with.

The younger nodded, his eyes shining with an expression Kaiba often found mirrored in himself. "You heard me. A housekeeper. This place needs a good clean, and you need someone around here to help..." His expression hardened even further as he added, "You can't do everything yourself, Seto. One day, you'll realise that and it'll be too late."

The older brother raised his eyebrow at the smaller boy. Where in the world did he get this stuff from...? "Mokuba," he firmly said, "We're Kaibas. We are independent and strong. We don't need a housekeeper. This isn't bloody Wuthering Heights. We're managing just fine as it is."

As if waiting for him to say this, Mokuba took his brother silently by the hand and pulled him away from the room. After several minutes, Seto realised he was being led downstairs. Mokuba twisted and turned through the hallways, eventually pushing open the door to their living room. It came to light the mess that had accumulated; dust on furniture, clothes strewn over backs of chairs, magazines lying around, DVDs scattered everywhere…

"See?" The younger brother walked in and nudged aside a jacket – obviously not his – with his foot and then proceeded to smirk at the CEO's expression; a mixture of sheer disgust and horror.

Seto gave a glance around the room, feeling somewhat ashamed that he'd neglected his own home so badly. "Get the cook to clean it," he said eventually, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"You fired him, remember? Yesterday, after dinner."

Damn… "Oh yeah."

Mokuba snorted indignantly and turned away from the mess to face his brother. Suddenly, his expression was grave, making him look older and more mature than usual. "Seto, I know that call you took earlier wasn't Kaiba Corp related. It was about our personal funds, wasn't it?"

Kaiba bit his lip gently; Mokuba was right. His secretary had called him about some business Seto had privately conducted, independent of Kaiba Corp. The situation turned out sticky and difficult, and Seto had been at his wits end trying to appease the family with which he was dealing with. "It's nothing to worry about Mokuba," he replied, a little too forcefully. "I've got it sorted."

Mokuba was a sharp kid. He caught onto his brother's business dealings quickly, and was well-informed with what went on at KaibaCorp. By the sheer amount of hours Kaiba was spending on the phone to directors and at the KaibaCorp headquarters, he'd never have time to just be at home.

"Seto," Mokuba said again, this time his voice soft and caring, "We need someone to keep this place in order. You're only human, and one day you'll realize there isn't enough time in the day for KaibaCorp, our home and me." He caught his brother's eye, noting the guilt plainly written all over his face. Playing the 'brother' card always seemed to aways work on Seto. Knowing that he had ultimately won his case, the teen smirked and asked, "Shall I put the ad in the paper or online?"

"Both," Seto grunted in defeat, "Post some around the town, just in case…" He pretended to ignore Mokuba's victorious smirk and stalked off to his bedroom. He closed the door behind him as soon as he arrived and stood for several minutes, back to the door, thinking of what the hell had just happened. Somehow, he thought, my brother is an evil genius of manipulation…

Groaning at the thought, the CEO pressed his hand to his closed eyes. His headache had gotten worse, now an accumulation of work and home stress – seeing the state of his house had just about depressed him for a month. The best remedy for one of Seto's infamous stress headaches was a hot bath, so he made his way to his en suite bathroom and ran the water until it was nearly full to the top. Baths always reminded him of his childhood… His childhood, that is, before the orphanage. When his mother - whom he couldn't remember no matter how hard he tried – had run a warm bath for him one winter night. If he cast his mind back far enough, he could still remember the smell of the irresistible lavender bath wash and his own tinkling laughter as he made bubble beards and splashed water around…

Seto stopped his trail of thoughts. It was useless to dwell on the past. He couldn't change it. No one could. He brought himself back to the relatively safe, dependable present time, and the current crisis on hand was brought back to his attention: a housekeeper.

Damn it - Mokuba was right, he thought as he stepped into the warm water. He was always right! It scared Seto slightly, if he had to be honest. While he was the older, more independent brother, Mokuba had learned from him, noted his mistakes and copied his better actions. Seto may be the leading young entrepreneur of his time, but Mokuba had grown up quickly in his footsteps and was as sharp, if even more so, than Seto.

Nevertheless, he was spot on about the housekeeper situation; they desperately needed one. The mansion was an obvious mess and someone who could fetch Kaiba's letters, organise his home affairs, cook his meals and to remind him when certain people called was starting to sound like a handy thing. Maybe then, situations like the one he had just spent hours fixing wouldn't occur…

Closing his eyes, Kaiba let his thoughts run away with the idea of finally coming home to a clean house, his affairs in order and being able to spend just one night bonding with his brother without the accursed phone ringing. He was slightly surprised by the time he'd stepped out of the bath that the idea had grown fondly on him…

xXx

"I'm telling ya Yugi, they'll hafta hire me. I'm perfect for the job!"

Joey Wheeler pressed his battered cell phone to his ear as his friend spoke to him. He was sitting in the office of a big Domino City business, awaiting news of his new potential employment. Joey had been searching for a job for weeks on end, and he had a good feeling about this one.

"Look, I don't doubt you," Yugi said, "Just please don't get your hopes up like the last fourteen-"

"Thirteen."

"-Sorry, thirteen times." Joey could almost hear the amusement in his voice. "I gotta go, but promise you'll come over for my party next week." It wasn't a question but a statement. "Regardless of whether you get the job or not…"

"Yugi! Of course I will! I wouldn't miss it for the world, job or no job. See ya." As he hung up, the interviewer re-entered the room. Her greying hair was neatly pinned up behind her ears, not even a strand loose. Her pinched face and slender suit-trimmed figure gave her a business like appearance, and when she spoke, she exerted an air of superiority.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." She didn't sound very sorry, Joey noted. "Mr. Wheeler, I'm very glad you applied for a position, but I'm afraid we have to turn you down. The company just can't afford to take on any unqualified employees at the moment." She gave what he assumed was an apologetic smile. "Sorry to waste your time like this."

After some commiserations and goodbyes were uttered, Joey grimly left the building. He hadn't expected much; it was a big publishing company. They didn't need undergraduate idiots like him working there…

The doors of the building slid open and the cool September air hit him. He had been searching for a job all summer, but he still hadn't been hired anywhere. Waiters, cleaners, drivers, assistants… He tried everything. Luck was not on the blonde's side this weather.

"Hey! Joey!"

He raised his head to see Tristan standing at the end of the street, two steaming coffee cups in his hands. He smiled at the blonde and walked towards him.

"Well?" He said eagerly as he approached the blonde. "Did you get the job?"

Joey shook his head. "Nah. They said they weren't hiring at the moment…" He sighed glumly.

The brunette handed him the coffee and smiled. "It's a 'cheer up Joey, you'll find a job soon' present. Enjoy."

The blonde grinned despite himself. Tristan always made him smile. He wondered how much he'd see of him when they all went to college next week…

Tristan had surprisingly been accepted in a college in the northern region of the country, so he was moving away for the year. Yugi and Ryou were staying in Domino, but both being the smartest of the group, were taking demanding, challenging courses in the local University. Teá was working in the dance studio under the apprenticeship of the owner. Even Otogi, while not going to college, was taking a local business course.

Joey was the only one not studying anything.

It wasn't his choice. His father didn't have any interest in paying for his education, and his mother wasn't exactly rolling in money, especially after Serenity's operation and the eye specialist appointments that had followed it.

Taking things into his own hands, the blonde had taken a year off to work and earn his money for college, but he still hadn't got a job yet. Graduation was almost two months ago! His time was precious - and rapidly running out. Not only that, but there was a scarcity of jobs in Domino. What made matters worse was that Joey had promised himself that he would take any job, anywhere. No matter the consequences. However, luck didn't seem to be playing on his side recently.

"… So that Marik guy is bring some beer and- Hey! Are you even listening?" Tristan waved a hand impatiently in front of Joey's face.

"Sorry, I was just thinking…" He trailed off. His eye caught a little advertisement stuck in the window of the shop they were passing. He rushed over to take a look at the fancily typed note:

Wanted, one housekeeper, M or F, to clean, cook and run errands-

"... Housekeeper?" Tristan said, reading over Joey's shoulder. He stopped at the word 'errands'. "Dude, you're not seriously going to apply! It's a woman's job!"

"Stop being sexist!" Wheeler said, already whipping out his phone. "It clearly states male or female…." Wheeler looked genuinely excited for once. "Look at how much I'll get a week!" He pointed at a little T&C at the end of the note. "Whoever they are, they must be damn rich!" He located the number and dialled it hastily.

Tristan didn't bother saying anything in response. He simply rolled his eyes and drank the rest of his coffee. He had learned long ago that Joey was very spontaneous. It was also better, he had discovered, to let the blonde off with his impulsive decisions, because trying to stop him once he had his mind set was damn near impossible.

A/N: Don't ya just love Joey's tenacity. XD I know the Japanese school system is completely different to many of the world's school systems but - for the stories sake - the school year starts in September and ends late May/Early June. :3 Anyway, thanks for reading. It shall start to get veeery interesting next chapter. ;)

~ Chapt3rFour